France has offered to share its nuclear energy expertise with the Philippines, marking a new diplomatic and technical front in Manila’s efforts to diversify its power generation mix.
The offer, conveyed by the outgoing French envoy, is part of a broader strategy to deepen defense and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
This development adds to the growing international interest in the Philippines’ potential return to nuclear power, a sector the country has largely avoided since the closure of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the 1980s.
The French offer comes as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signaled openness to nuclear technology as a solution to the country’s chronic energy crisis.
Manila is already in preliminary discussions with Canadian engineering group AtkinsRéalis regarding a potential partnership in the nuclear sector.
The involvement of multiple international partners, including France and Canada, suggests that the Philippines is actively seeking technical and financial support to navigate the complex regulatory and safety hurdles associated with nuclear energy.