Programmes and agreements / prg-ph-mgen-ustda-smr-feasibility-study

Meralco PowerGen SMR feasibility study funded by USTDA (Meralco NEST programme)

In February 2026 USTDA funded Meralco PowerGen to evaluate US SMR designs, identify preferred technology and sites, and develop an implementation roadmap for the Philippines' first SMR plant, under Meralco's Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) programme. Meralco and MGEN chose Sargent & Lundy with AMH Philippines in September 2026 to run the study, due by late 2027. No design, site or decision to build exists, three possible proof-of-concept sites were reported in 2024.

Not a deployment project. SMR plans, agreements, studies and government programmes that are not (yet) a single deployment project. They are listed separately and are never counted as projects or reactors.

Type

Feasibility or siting study

Countries concerned

Philippines

Participants and roles

• Host or customer: Manila Electric Company (Meralco)
• Host or customer: Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN)
• Government: US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
• Other participant: Sargent & Lundy
• Other participant: AMH Philippines, Inc.

Designs named

—

Scale as stated

study and implementation roadmap for a first SMR plant (USTDA grant of USD 2.7-2.8 million as variously reported)

Announced or first reported

16 Feb 2026

Status

Active
Study due by Q4 2027 to decide whether, when and how SMRs fit, Sargent & Lundy and AMH selected 1 September 2026. No design, site or deployment decision. Candidate proof-of-concept sites reported in…

Confidence

medium

Last checked

2026-10-14 (record review date, not proof of current activity)

Related deployment projects

• No related deployment project is recorded here.

Sources

• USTDA Brings U.S. Small Modular Reactor Technology to Strengthen Philippines' Energy Security (government_primary, published 16 Feb 2026, accessed 2026-10-14)
• Meralco, MGEN tap Sargent & Lundy for comprehensive SMR feasibility study (company_primary, published 1 Sep 2026, accessed 2026-10-14)
• One Meralco advances nuclear energy push with $2.8M USTDA grant (company_primary, published 19 Feb 2026, accessed 2026-10-14)
• Power Utility Identifies Three Possible Sites For Nuclear Plant (reputable_press, published 15 Jan 2024, accessed 2026-10-14)