MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met on Monday with the head of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp., Mohammed Al-Hammadi, as the government seeks to include atomic power in its energy mix. 

The Philippines has been exploring clean and sustainable options to generate power, as the country regularly suffers power outages and faces high tariffs. Coal remains the main source of electricity in the Southeast Asian nation, accounting for over half of its power generation. 

ENEC CEO Mohammed Al-Hammadi met Marcos during a courtesy call at Malacanang Palace in Manila, where they discussed a potential partnership in nuclear energy. 

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is hopeful the Philippines could successfully partner with Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. (ENEC) as the country explores the possible use of nuclear energy for power generation,” the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement. 

Nuclear as an alternative energy option “is a subject that we have been talking about for a long time,” Marcos told Al-Hammadi at the meeting, adding that he has been trying to figure out the government’s next steps. 

“And this had become a very high-priority topic. I hope we can find ways to help each other in this,” Marcos was quoted as saying. 

Philippine officials are also expecting nuclear energy to help meet increasing power demand in the country, which is projected to require an additional 68 GW by 2040. 

Established in 2009, ENEC is responsible for the implementation of the UAE’s Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, including the development and operations of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi. 

After Barakah opened in 2021, the UAE became the first Arab state to operate a nuclear power plant.