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Can France help the Philippines overcome its nuclear power baggage?

PressNewsAgency
By PressNewsAgency

France’s offer to share nuclear expertise with the Philippines could potentially boost Manila’s long-term energy security, as analysts say any push to revive nuclear power in the country would have to overcome safety and governance concerns.

Marie Fontanel, the outgoing French ambassador to the Philippines, said last week that France was ready to share its nuclear energy expertise with Manila, while deepening defence cooperation, according to a report by ABS-CBN News.

Her remarks came just after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr suggested in his state of the nation address on July 27 that “perhaps it is time for us to revisit nuclear energy production”.

“We will ensure it is safe. We will ensure the good benefits of nuclear energy will be explained properly to the public,” Marcos added.

The Philippines and France upgraded their defence ties in March with the signing of a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in Paris, which allows both sides to deploy troops on each other’s soil.

Fontanel said both sides had been in talks on nuclear cooperation since her posting in 2023, with steps taken to secure “the possibility of a grant” from the French government and for French electric company EDF to share its expertise on nuclear energy security.

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