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U.S. Trade Agency Grants $2.7 Million to Philippine Utility for SMR Feasibility Study

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  • (Image: US Embassy in the Philippines)
    (Image: US Embassy in the Philippines)
    Image: World Nuclear News
    (Image: US Embassy in the Philippines) Source Full size

USTDA Allocates $2.7 Million for SMR Feasibility The U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced a $2.7 million grant on 17 February 2026 to support Meralco PowerGen’s evaluation of small modular reactor (SMR) designs and to draft an implementation roadmap for the Philippines’ first SMR plant [1]. The funding targets technical assistance that will assess U.S. SMR technologies and align the project with international best practices [1]. The grant is part of a broader U.S. effort to promote nuclear energy cooperation with Southeast Asian partners [1].

Proposal Window Opens for U.S. Firms, Closes Feb 23 USTDA opened a competitive proposal window for qualified U.S. companies to deliver the technical assistance, with submissions due by 23 February 2026 [1]. Eligible firms must demonstrate experience in SMR design, licensing, and financing to meet the agency’s criteria [1]. The deadline creates a narrow timeframe for U.S. vendors to position themselves for a potential long‑term partnership with Meralco [1].

Study Will Produce U.S. SMR Shortlist and Financing Roadmap The feasibility study will generate a shortlist of U.S. SMR providers ranked on technical merit, safety, and cost [1]. It will also produce a financing roadmap outlining project‑structuring options, risk mitigation strategies, and potential funding sources [1]. These deliverables aim to streamline decision‑making for the Philippines as it moves toward its first nuclear‑based power generation facility [1].

Agency and Utility Leaders Emphasize Energy Security Benefits Deputy Director Thomas Hardy highlighted that safe, secure SMRs can enhance the Philippines’ energy independence while bolstering the U.S. nuclear industry [1]. Meralco Chairman Manuel Pangilinan described the grant as a responsible step toward integrating nuclear power into the country’s energy mix, stressing the need for rigorous standards and world‑class expertise [1]. Both officials framed the collaboration as mutually beneficial for strategic energy and economic goals [1].

Simulator and Academic Partnerships Expand SMR Training Capacity USTDA added a control‑room simulator in the Luzon Economic Corridor to train operators on SMR systems [1]. The agency also funded the FIRST programme, linking Texas A&M University and King’s College London with Philippine engineering schools to embed SMR curricula and develop local expertise [1]. These initiatives aim to build a skilled workforce capable of safely managing future SMR deployments [1].

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Timeline

2026 – Only three small modular reactors operate worldwide – a Russian barge in Siberia and two Chinese plants – and none are in the United States, underscoring the nascent state of the technology and the urgency of domestic development efforts [1].

Jan 22, 2026 – The Department of Energy approves roughly $800 million for SMR research and deployment, channeling public money into projects like Holtec’s Palisades restart and Kairos Power’s molten‑salt demonstrator [1].

Jan 22, 2026 – Holtec launches the formal licensing process with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for two 300‑MW water‑cooled SMRs at the shuttered Palisades plant in Michigan, targeting NRC approval by 2029 and commercial operation by 2031 [1].

Feb 17, 2026 – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency allocates $2.7 million to Meralco PowerGen for a technical‑assistance study that will shortlist U.S. SMR designs and draft a financing roadmap for the Philippines’ first SMR plant [2].

Feb 17, 2026 – Deputy Director Thomas Hardy says the grant “will boost the U.S. nuclear industry and the Philippines’ energy future,” emphasizing safe, secure SMRs as a path to energy independence [2].

Feb 17, 2026 – Meralco Chairman Manuel Pangilinan calls the grant “a step toward safe nuclear integration,” stressing the need for rigorous, world‑class expertise in any Philippine SMR rollout [2].

Feb 23, 2026 – The USTDA’s proposal window closes, allowing qualified U.S. firms to submit bids to deliver the SMR technical‑assistance study for the Philippines [2].

2026 – Kairos Power breaks ground on a molten‑fluoride‑salt demonstration reactor at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, planning to begin operations in 2028 and to scale to a commercial‑size unit by 2030 [1].

2026 – Meta announces a pre‑payment deal with SMR startup Oklo to develop a multi‑billion‑dollar SMR campus in Pike County, Ohio, intended to power its data‑center portfolio [1].

2026 – Kairos Power signs a partnership with Google to supply about 500 MW of SMRs, with the first unit slated for commercial operation around 2030, a move meant to accelerate factory production lines and lower costs [1].

2028 – The Kairos molten‑salt demonstrator is expected to achieve first criticality and begin test operations, providing performance data that will inform the 2030 commercial rollout [1].

2029 – The NRC is projected to grant final approval for Holtec’s two Palisades SMRs, clearing the way for construction and licensing‑driven financing [1].

2030 – Kairos aims to bring its first commercial‑scale SMR online, while Google’s 500‑MW SMR unit also reaches operational status, marking the first large‑scale deployment of SMRs in the United States [1].

2031 – Holtec expects its two 300‑MW SMRs at Palisades to be fully operational, providing a test case that could catalyze a broader U.S. SMR rollout [1].

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