Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Sharon Garin, who leads the Philippine Delegation to the IAEA General Conference, delivers the Philippines statement at the plenary on September 17 (Photo by Atty. Domifel Umingli/Philippine Embassy in Vienna)
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi (3rd from right) after a meeting with the Philippine delegation: Philippine Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the IAEA, Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes Bernas (4th from left), DOE Undersecretary Garin (2nd from right), IAEA Secretary of the Policy-Making Organs (PMO) and former Philippine Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad (2nd from left), Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla (extreme right), DOE Director Patrick Aquino (3rd from left) and Dan Bagaporo, Third Secretary, Philippine Permanent Mission (extreme left) (Photo by Dean Calma/IAEA)
Nuclear energy milestones in PH reported at the IAEA general confab
Doing its part in the continued effort towards global cooperation in the nuclear field, the Philippines joined hundreds of its fellow Member States at the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from September 16-20, 2024, in Vienna, Austria.
The Philippine delegation was led by Department of Energy Undersecretary Sharon Garin, accompanied by the Philippine Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the IAEA, Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes Bernas, Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla, and other officials.
Filipino milestones in nuclear energy
At the plenary of the conference on September 17, Undersecretary Garin hailed the role of Atoms for Peace and Development and the assistance that IAEA provides towards the country’s progress, particularly in the field of energy generation.
“The Philippines recognizes the transformative power of atomic energy for sustainable development and commend the Agency for its continued delivery of assistance in this regard,” the Undersecretary said.
These landmark developments include the launching of a national roadmap consistent with the IAEA Milestones Approach for establishing a national infrastructure on nuclear power.
The new energy roadmap looks forward to operational nuclear power plants in the Philippines by 2032, starting at 1,200 megawatts to 4,800 megawatts by 2050. The Undersecretary also mentioned the parallel efforts towards establishing an independent nuclear body through the PhilATOM bill already filed in Congress.
The Philippine delegation’s statement also featured the various nuclear technologies being developed or implemented in the country.
These include the ongoing establishment of a nuclear medicine center which aims to lower the cost of PET-CT procedures and make cancer staging a reality for more Filipinos.
Also mentioned were Filipino initiatives on radiation processing applications for increasing crop yields as well as recycling plastic waste into useful industrial and construction materials.
Undersecretary Garin also lauded the successful conduct of the first International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) early in August with participating students from fellow Member States in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the anticipated hosting of the next INSO by Malaysia in 2025.
Supporting the global nuclear liability regime and strengthening international networks
Meanwhile, Dr. Arcilla delivered a message on behalf of the DOST, underscoring the Philippines’ support for the convention as it has already signed and is already moving towards acceding to the agreement. The Philippines has also previously hosted an international workshop with other countries in Southeast Asia who are also considering to join the convention and reap its benefits.
“I encourage a deep study on this and what we have done, and it's my big hope that we can finally accede to this very important convention that protects everybody,” said Dr. Arcilla during the side event on the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage. This is the latest in a wide umbrella of international agreements that provide for liability and compensation to be paid for damages involving nuclear incidents in installations as well as during the transport of nuclear materials.
Throughout the conference, the delegation also attended several bilateral and committee meetings – most notably with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and other IAEA officials – but also with other government officials and representatives of the nuclear industry and the private sector, particularly from United States, Canada, Argentina, Thailand, Japan, Australia, and ASEAN, among others.
Director Arcilla of DOST-PNRI with the rest of the Philippine delegation meeting with IAEA Director General Grossi and other IAEA officials. (Photos by Dean Calma/IAEA)
Director Arcilla speaking at the side event on the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (Photos by Gilbert Poralan/PNRI International Cooperation Section and Mr. Dan Erwin Bagaporo/ Philippine Embassy in Vienna)
