Philippines, Argentina hold bilateral talk on nuclear cooperation
Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) had a productive dialogue with representatives from the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, and INVAP Company to discuss the peaceful applications of nuclear energy in medicine, agriculture, and energy production.
The bilateral talk was led by Ambassador Linglingay Lacanlale of the Philippine delegation and Augusto Ceasar Granada, Argentina's Chargé d' Affaires in the Philippines, who headed the Argentine delegation.
Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla, director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PNRI), acknowledged the importance of Argentina as a nuclear leader, citing the country's numerous contributions worldwide. In the virtual meeting, he gave an overview of the Philippines' nuclear program and discussed DOST-PNRI’s initiatives and interests in nuclear power's peaceful applications. For her part, Dir. Gabriela Martinic underscored Argentina’s willingness to offer its expertise and support the Philippines and the DOST.
Ambassador Lacanlale, on the other hand, highlighted that the bilateral meeting is a significant move towards advancing science and technology cooperation, in general, between the Philippines and Argentina.
Following the discussion, areas of cooperation were explored as follows:
- Design and Construction of Small Modular Reactor (SMR);
- Regulatory aspect of SMR;
- Nuclear Medicine;
- 3rd party assessor/evaluator for Philippine's Bataan Nuclear Power Plant rehabilitation;
- Possible supply of Molybdenum 99 and Cobalt 60 to the Philippines; and
- Capacity Building or certification of nuclear engineering and physics.
