Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr speaks during the APEC CEO Summit, Nov 15, 2023, in San Francisco, the United States. (PHOTO / AP)

MANILA – The United States and the Philippines on Friday signed a landmark deal that would allow Washington to export nuclear technology and material to Manila, which is exploring the use of nuclear power to decarbonize and boost energy independence.

"The United States will be able to share equipment and material with the Philippines as they work to develop small modular reactors and other civilian nuclear energy infrastructure," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in San Francisco.

Negotiations for the 123 Agreement started in November 2022.

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"We see nuclear energy becoming a part of the Philippines' energy mix by 2032 and we are more than happy to pursue this path with the United States," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said in a speech. "Nuclear energy is one area where we can show the Philippines-US alliance and partnership truly works."

US Congress approval is needed for the deal, which will allow a peaceful transfer of nuclear material, equipment, and information in adherence with non-proliferation requirements.

As of end-2022, the US had 23 agreements covering 47 countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Philippines wants to tap nuclear power as a viable alternative baseload power source as it seeks to retire coal plants to help meet climate goals and boost energy security. 

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Previous attempts to pursue nuclear energy in the Philippines were halted over safety concerns, but Marcos has discussed the possibility of reviving a mothballed nuclear power plant, built in response to an energy crisis during the rule of his namesake father.

Completed in 1984, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was mothballed two years later.