Philippine Scientists Identify Potential Uranium Deposits in Camarines Norte

Filipino scientists have identified uranium-bearing minerals at a former mine site in Camarines Norte, a finding that could support the Philippines’ plans to develop nuclear power as part of its future energy mix.

Researchers from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, the University of the Philippines Diliman and Japan’s Akita University have been studying surface samples from the Bessemer mine pit in Larap village, Jose Panganiban, about 350 kilometres southeast of Manila.

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute said the research confirmed the presence of uraninite, the most common uranium-bearing mineral, in the surface deposits examined.

Laboratory processing of a 180-kilogram sample produced uranium concentrations of 305 parts per million, equivalent to 0.0305 per cent. Researchers said the material could also be processed into a product with a higher uranium content.

The findings could provide a basis for further research into producing uranium concentrate, commonly known as yellowcake, which is an intermediate material used in the nuclear fuel cycle.

However, the concentration identified so far is considered low grade, meaning additional exploration and drilling will be required to determine the size of the deposit and whether it could be commercially developed.

The discovery comes as the Philippines prepares to expand its nuclear energy programme. The country’s energy plan targets at least 1,200 megawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2032 as the government seeks additional sources of electricity.

Uranium is used as fuel in nuclear reactors, where energy is released through nuclear fission. A small uranium fuel pellet can produce substantially more energy than a similar amount of fossil fuel.

The Philippines has historically been regarded as having little or no domestic uranium potential, making the latest research significant for the country’s long-term energy planning.

Alberto Dalusung III, an energy transition adviser at the Manila-based Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, said a sufficiently large domestic uranium resource could eventually provide benefits beyond electricity generation.

He said locally sourced uranium could improve the resilience of a future Philippine nuclear power programme by reducing dependence on overseas fuel supplies.

Dalusung also said a commercially viable deposit could potentially become an export opportunity if the resource proved large enough.

He pointed to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries that are also considering nuclear energy, saying a domestic uranium supply could potentially provide another source of fuel within the region.

The researchers stressed that more work is needed before the deposits can be considered commercially viable. Further drilling, resource assessment and processing studies will be required to establish the quantity and quality of uranium available at the site.

For now, the discovery represents an early stage in assessing whether the Philippines could develop a domestic uranium resource alongside its plans to introduce nuclear power into its future energy system.