Japan’s nuclear energy prowess in spotlight at the Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum 2024

Japan, a forerunner in nuclear energy technologies, will share developments, best practices, and outlooks on the nuclear energy industry at the Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum (PINSCF) 2024 to be held from 13-15 November 2024 at Solaire Resort North in Quezon City.

 

Japan's delegation will discuss the substantive history and technological evolution of its nuclear power industry, highlighting the maturity of its domestic manufacturing and local supply chain on 15 November 2024, the third day of the forum.

 

The PINSCF 2024 will provide a platform for local energy stakeholders to engage in panel discussions, networking sessions, and knowledge sharing activities with nuclear energy experts from countries with immense experience on nuclear energy technologies, including the United States, Canada, France, South Korea, and Japan.

 

Japan currently operates 12 nuclear power reactors, contributing a total net capacity of 11,046 MWe to the country. In 2023, 5.5 percent of the country’s total electricity production was attributed to nuclear energy. The share of nuclear energy in Japan’s power generation mix is expected to rise to 20 percent by 2030.

 

Japan is among the first countries to embrace domestic manufacturing in the field of nuclear power. Seven years after the enactment of the Atomic Energy Basic Law in 1955, Japan constructed its first reactor using only domestic technologies. In 1966, Japan’s first commercial nuclear power reactor, Tokai-No. 1, began its operation.

 

Japan's nuclear energy technologies continue to advance worldwide through its engagements in international cooperation projects. The JT-60SA, the world’s largest operational experimental nuclear fusion reactor, was inaugurated in Naka, Japan. The joint project between the European Union and Japan aims to investigate the feasibility of fusion as a safe, large-scale, and carbon-free source of energy that generates more energy than it consumes.

 

The country is also involved in a joint venture on Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. Japanese companies IHI Corporation, a design and manufacturing company for components of nuclear power plants, and JGC Holdings Corporation, which provides engineering services for nuclear power facilities, are partnering with NuScale, a U.S.-based developer of SMR. A recent milestone in the NuScale SMR project is the development of a working framework Emergency Planning Zone, an integral 0.2-16 km. part of a plant as a preplanned protective action strategy.

Japan is also currently building the ARKADIA, a user-friendly AI-aided platform that integrates three systems of simulation technologies, design optimization, and knowledge integration to shorten the design period and innovate the development process of advanced nuclear reactors.

 

“The Philippines hopes to tap into the innovations, best practices, and lessons learned by Japan in building a robust and secure nuclear energy infrastructure. Japan’s focus on continuous improvement, efficiency, and precision will guide us in charting our path to energy resilience and security,” the Department of Energy said.

 

Currently, Japan’s Strategic Energy Plan is grounded on the principles of 3E + S — energy security, economic efficiency, environmental protection and safety. Nuclear energy was reinstated in Japan’s nuclear landscape last year, in its Basic Policy for the Realization of Green Transformation to strengthen the country’s energy security and realize carbon neutrality by 2050 through the synergy of nuclear and renewable energy. 

 

Nuclear energy plays a crucial role in the Philippine Energy Outlook with a target of substantial capacity input of 1,200 MW by 2032 to be increased by 2,400 MW and 4,800 MW by 2035 and 2050 respectively. The Philippines recognizes the support given by the international community in terms of technical assistance, expert missions, and strategic partnerships in the development of eventual nuclear energy projects in the country. The PINSCF 2024 will be a venue for local industry players, decision-makers, government agencies, and educational institutions to foster international collaborations with global leaders in nuclear power generation.

 

Registration for the forum is open through the official website: www.nuclearforumph.com. For more information, participants may contact the Nuclear Energy Program Secretariat through email address [email protected] or reach out to [email protected] for media inquiries. ###