CAN nuclear energy be used for sustainable growth? That is one of many questions to be answered in a virtual roundtable called ‘Powering the Future: Exploring Nuclear Energy and Emerging Technologies in APEC,” this coming June 30.
The event run by ABAC Philippines and ABAC Canada aims to delve into the pivotal role of nuclear energy in driving sustainable growth and facilitate the exchange of invaluable expertise and best practices among participants. By bringing together experts and resource speakers from various fields, the roundtable aims to foster insightful discussions on the potential of nuclear energy and emerging technologies in driving a sustainable future.
Philippines’ Department of Energy Secretary Jose “Popo” Lotilla will keynote the event, and the roundtable discussions will be participated in by Emmanuel V. Rubio, President and CEO of AboitizPower; Prof. Dr. Ir. Anhar Riza Antariksawan, Main Expert Researcher at the Research Organization on Nuclear Energy at the Indonesia National Research and Innovation Agency; Congressman Mark Cojuangco of Pangasinan; Dr. Ken Nakajima, Professor Emeritus from the Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science at Kyoto University, Ms. Julianne den Decker, Senior Vice President of Major Projects at CANDU Energy; and Svyatoslav V. Pikh, Head of Department at ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation in The Russian Federation and among others.
Opening the event are Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz, member of ABAC Philippines and Vice Chair of the ABAC Sustainable Growth Working Group, and Jan De Silva, Chair of ABAC Digital Innovation Working Group and President and CEO of Toronto Region Board of Trade. Aboitiz Equity Ventures’ FVP and Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will host the event, while discussions will be moderated by Ruth Yu-Owen, Vice-President of The Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance and co-founder of Connected Women.
“This event is a meeting of minds and a gathering of insights, expertise, and vision on nuclear energy; which has the potential to unlock some valuable solutions for a sustainable future. In the end, it’s not about what energy can do for us today, but how it can shape a world of growth and opportunity for future generations,” Aboitiz said in a press statement.
“The transition to a low carbon future is expected to be the largest economic transition in history. The energy transition is forecasted to drive 50 percent of the economic transition. As one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, APEC is now responsible for 68 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Nuclear energy offers an at-scale solution as economies move to decarbonize and boost energy security,” De Silva noted.
The discussion will promote a holistic comprehension of nuclear power’s potential benefits and challenges, focusing on its integration into the sustainable development agenda of APEC member countries. By facilitating collaboration and knowledge-sharing among participants, the event seeks to explore methods to encourage sustainable and dependable energy sources while simultaneously tackling the urgent matter of lowering carbon emissions.
During the second ABAC meeting in Brunei Darussalam last April 27-30, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC) endorsed ABAC Philippines’ two key sustainability initiatives, including the exploration of the viability of nuclear energy through small modular reactors (SMR) and emerging technology as a zero-carbon energy source.
“In pursuing an equitable future for the APEC region, we must embrace diversification of sources. Relying solely on a few energy sources is no longer sufficient. We need to explore a variety of clean technologies, including nuclear energy, with an open mind to ensure a sustainable and inclusive path towards economic growth,” Philippine Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.
