The Philippines, whose completed nuclear plant built during the Marcos Sr. regime was shut down after the U.S.-run coup in 1986, is now in negotiations with Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), “the U.S.-based global leader in the deployment of fourth-generation gas-cooled Micro-Modular™ Reactor (MMR®) Energy Systems,” according to World Nuclear News. Today USNC signed a cooperative agreement with the Philippine energy corporation Meralco to “study the potential deployment of one or more MMR Energy Systems in the Philippines.” The late Butch Valdes, who headed the Philippines LaRouche Society, was for years the leading proponent of restoring the country’s nuclear program.
Meralco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan and USNC Founder and CEO Francesco Venneri executed the deal at the sidelines of the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit. It was witnessed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
