US, Phl to begin talks on nuclear cooperation

The United States and the Philippines will start negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that will provide legal basis for US exports of nuclear equipment and material to the country.

According to a fact sheet sent by the US embassy in Manila, the “123 agreement” is one of the initiatives to be launched during the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris in the Philippines.

The 123 agreement will support expanded cooperation on zero-emission energy and nonproliferation priorities.

“The ‘123 agreement’ is the legal basis that the United States needs to expand civil cooperation and it consists of arrangements to ensure that civil nuclear energy cooperation is protected against nuclear weapons proliferation,” a senior official said in a background briefing Sunday.

“And once in force, this agreement will allow US companies to export nuclear equipment, creating significant new commercial opportunities for our private sector. And of course this will also help the Philippines develop its energy security and transition to clean energy,” the official added.

The agreement is also in line with the US “commitment” to working with the Philippines to “increase energy security and deploying advanced nuclear reactor technology as quickly as safety and security conditions permit to meet the Philippines’ dire baseload power needs.”

“Such a deployment would support both energy security and climate goals, as well as support workers and businesses in both countries,” the fact sheet read.

The senior official said the agreement is integral before the formal civil cooperation can begin as required under the US National Security Act.

In his first State of the Nation Address, President Marcos said it is time to re-examine the strategy toward building nuclear power plants in the Philippines.

He said that “there have been new technologies developed that allow smaller scale modular nuclear plants and other derivations thereof.”