r/AIPhilippine

Thorium 232 and Uranium 238 found in steel made in Davao

According to this news article from Philstar the NBI raided a steel mill using ores contaminated with thorium-232 and uranium-238. At 1st glanced you will think this is bad but if you know your basic chemistry and periodic table you will realized these radioactive materials are non-fissile therefore has no ill effects on human health.

On the other hand we found this news article very useful because it support our position that energy independence for the Philippines is very possible through nuclear power. The Philippines lack any meaningful gas resources, has no oil, and the coal cannot be use for fuel in coal power plants. In short the Philippines need to import almost 100% of its energy need. This is also the main reason why electricity is so expensive in the Philippines compared to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei

However the Philippines is rich in thorium. So the path for energy independence for the Philippines is through nuclear energy, aka France.

u/SBD-Tech1234 — 5 days ago

▲ 44 r/AIPhilippine+1 crossposts

The $NIKL Dilemma: Pax Silica might skyrocket Nickel Asia, but at what environmental cost?

https://preview.redd.it/r247bpowfxeh1.png?width=1108&format=png&auto=webp&s=4835c0ee90e75721ac7afd9886887c08c314b675

https://preview.redd.it/rphxp9n5gxeh1.png?width=792&format=png&auto=webp&s=13bf0a28068cab8843cb6ff6d7a230decbc4cace

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Hey everyone, I've been doing some research on Nickel Asia Corporation ($NIKL).

We all know about the recent Pax Silica Initiative, right?

It's a US-led framework launched in December 2025 to build secure tech supply chains for semiconductors, AI, and critical minerals.
A major, implicit goal of the initiative is to reduce global reliance on China's supply chains.
The Philippines is heavily involved because we are the world's second-largest nickel producer and the largest global exporter of nickel ore.
Our abundant nickel resources are essential for clean energy and tech, positioning the country as a key partner in this coalition.

If you look at the recent $NIKL stock movement, it feels like there is serious upside potential given this massive geopolitical push for our critical minerals.

But here is where I get stuck: the environmental destruction is heartbreaking, making the idea of investing feel wrong.

Nickel Asia, via its subsidiary Hinatuan Mining Corporation, runs massive extraction projects.
If you look at the map and the summary, the extensive deforestation and environmental scarring on Hinatuan Island are undeniable.
Advocacy groups are already warning that the Pax Silica demand for critical minerals could accelerate this type of large-scale mining in other provinces, risking further deforestation and polluted watersheds.

What makes it even harder to stomach is that right now, over 90% of our nickel harvest goes straight to China for processing. Instead of the Philippines actually consuming it to build our own self-reliant industries or moving up the value chain, we are just exporting the raw earth and keeping the environmental scars. While the Pax Silica initiative promises to process critical minerals locally in a proposed 1,620-hectare hub in New Clark City, we are currently just a supplier of raw materials.

Wala akong NIKL holdings, Medyo nausisa lang. tingin niyo?

reddit.com

u/Josht1fiable — 5 days ago

▲ 7 r/AIPhilippine+1 crossposts

My Stand on Pax Silica as a Computer Engineering Student

Pax Silica can bring a lot of opportunities to the Philippines, especially when it comes to semiconductors, AI, and other technologies. However, I don’t completely agree with bringing it into the country if the Philippines will only serve as a place for manufacturing while other countries still have most of the control and receive more of the benefits.

The Philippines already has many skilled engineers and workers who are capable of doing more. I think we should focus not only on manufacturing but also on developing our own technology. More support could be given to local research, chip design, cybersecurity, and other areas where Filipino engineers can use their skills to create and improve technologies instead of always relying on foreign companies.

With what I’m learning in Computer Engineering, I’ve realized that we have the potential to do more than just use or manufacture existing technology. I’m not saying that Pax Silica is entirely bad because it can still open opportunities for the country. But if the Philippines is going to be part of something this important, I think we should have a bigger role in it. We should gain not only jobs, but also the knowledge and experience that can help us build and improve our own technology industry in the future.

Morales, Ma. Renee Cassandra

ZGE 1102 4CPE-1B

August 10, 2026

reddit.com

u/SBD-Tech1234 — 5 days ago

▲ 1 r/AIPhilippine+1 crossposts

AGHAM against Pax Silica because there's no technology transfer; absolutely false

Am not sure if it's true according to Philstar news article AGHAM, a party-list made up of scientists and intellectuals, they are against Pax silica because there's no assured technology transfer.

Am not so sure if it's true that there will no technology transfer but I strongly believe this is absolutely false. Firstly the USA is already sharing to the world the initial results they got in the thorium molten salt reactor experiment. Due to budget constraints the USA discontinued the MSRE just sit in the archives for a long time. In 2011 Barack Obama de-classify and shared to world TMSR. If de-classifying the TMSR experiment is not technology transfer, I don't know what is technology transfer according to AGHAM. Does AGHAM wants to be spoon fed?

Secondly, what is TMRS or the thorium molten salt reactor how does it differ from light water reactor that is prone to nuclear accidents that we have witnessed in the past. It's a reactor designed for the USAF, use liquid nuclear fuel in salt solution where fission take place and heat is absorb by the salt solution. Since salt has a higher boiling point than water, no pressure is needed. TMSR has been dubbed as a high heat low pressure reactor, while light water reactors are also called pressurized water reactor. Since MSR is operating at near or atmospheric pressure it's viewed much safer compared to LWR. Also since the fuel is already in liquid form the danger of a meltdown like what happened in Chernobyl and Fukushima is prevented. Overall MSR is a safe nuclear alternative

There are still many technical hurdles that need to be done before a commercial reactor can be sold in the market. This is a big chance for Filipino scientists to shine.

u/SBD-Tech1234 — 9 days ago

▲ 334 r/AIPhilippine+3 crossposts

'LET'S LOOK AT THE POSITIVES AND THEN DISCUSS THE NEGATIVES'

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said several Asian countries were “prepared to take on” the Pax Silica project, but the Philippines was among the few nations selected.

He urged political leaders and opposition groups to “look first at the advantages of Pax Silica before going any further in criticizing it.”

u/GMAIntegratedNews — 11 days ago