That is the case with the release of Restoring America's Nuclear Energy Leadership and Exports, a new report authored by Paul Saunders, the President of the Center for the National interest, and published by the Energy Innovation Reform Project.

I had the opportunity to be part of a panel with several other luminaries that discussed the report’s insights. My comments focused on 5 key issues that I believe are important to move to the next phase of restoring American global nuclear energy leadership.

Internationally, nuclear energy has now emerged as a consensus solution to climate change as evidenced by the pledge to triple its expansion at COP 28. That is an achievement that was unthinkable even 5 years ago. And, Russian aggression has elevated the importance of global energy security, with nuclear power emerging as a priority objective for those nations that were dependent on Russian fossil fuels.

The Center for the National Interest’s President, Paul J. Saunders, authored a report underscoring the urgency for the United States to reassess its civil nuclear sector and policy framework in response to the evolving landscape of global nuclear trade.

The United States faces stiff competition from China, which has rapidly expanded its domestic nuclear fleet, and Russia which is the global leader in nuclear exports. To regain its leadership position, Saunders argues that the United States must innovate on technologies, accelerate domestic deployment of nuclear energy, particularly with advanced reactor technologies, facilitate international engagements, and cooperate with allies. By expanding research programs, supporting domestic industry revitalization, and facilitating smoother export processes, the U.S. can position itself competitively in the global nuclear market.

Moreover, initiatives such as the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, Versatile Test Reactor, and bilateral research collaborations with allied nations offer avenues for progress. Achieving these objectives requires careful consideration of U.S. national interests and a reevaluation of the policies that can accelerate or slow America’s global nuclear competitiveness. As such, policymakers must navigate the complexities of geopolitical dynamics while advancing policies that serve the long-term interests of the United States and its allies. To learn more about the Center for the National Interest’s recent event on U.S. leadership in nuclear exports, you can watch the panel here.

Ukrainian engineers repaired a high-voltage power line providing electricity to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, averting a potential blackout, according to Ukraine's nuclear power company Energoatom. The repair came after a series of Russian strikes targeting Ukraine's power facilities, with over 150 missiles and drones launched.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned against complacency following recent military actions near Ukrainian nuclear facilities. Despite ongoing explosions and air raid warnings near the Zaporizhzhia NPP, IAEA experts have been able to stabilize the situation, but nuclear safety and security remains vulnerable, with some areas remaining inaccessible. The Kharkiv Neutron Source installation lost external power due to shelling, relying on emergency generators, but radiation levels remain normal, emphasizing the ongoing vulnerability of Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure amidst conflict.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has announced funding for a series of international workshops to advance US-led civil nuclear energy deployment in Europe and Eurasia. Over the next two years, the USTDA will host four workshops in Europe and the United States to promote industry-wide transatlantic partnerships and support decision-makers as they plan for the implementation of civil nuclear energy projects. This program is the latest in the USTDA’s recent portfolio of nuclear energy-related activities, including project preparation to enhance climate and energy security in Indonesia, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) began discussions with European nations, including the United Kingdom, to explore potential investments by Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) in European nuclear power infrastructure. ENEC aims to hold minority stakes in European nuclear projects as part of its international expansion plans, amidst efforts by oil-rich Gulf states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia to diversify their economies away from fossil fuels. While the UAE and UK have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on civil nuclear cooperation, potential investments by ENEC in European nuclear projects may encounter political and commercial complexities amidst the EU's divided stance on nuclear energy.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) developed a high-density uranium silicide fuel to replace high-enriched uranium in research reactors, with irradiation tests showing promising results, potentially advancing global efforts in nuclear nonproliferation. This plate-type uranium silicide fuel boasts a uranium density that is approximately 10% higher than current fuels. KAERI's research began in 2020, focusing on the development of uranium silicide spherical-particle powder and subsequent testing through the KIMQI project in Belgium's SCK-CEN BR2 reactor, with the final qualification report expected by the end of 2025 following post-irradiation examination.

France pledged to assist Brazil in developing nuclear-powered submarines, announced French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron emphasized France's commitment to non-proliferation while offering support to Brazil during a ceremony for the launch of a conventionally powered submarine near Rio de Janeiro. The collaboration is part of a longstanding partnership outlined in a 2008 deal, with France's Naval Group assisting in the design and construction.

Russia expanded its nuclear influence in Africa by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Algeria's Ministry of Energy. Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, signed this agreement as part of its broader strategy to engage the African market. The MoU includes a joint activities roadmap for 2024-2025, likely focusing on nuclear technology applications in medicine, research reactors, and potential manufacturing endeavors, reflecting Russia's increasing involvement in Africa's nuclear energy sector.

Burkina Faso and Russia's Rosatom are finalizing a nuclear deal to construct a reactor in the West African country. Burkina Faso's Energy Minister emphasizes the potential benefits of the project, including addressing energy deficits and bolstering socio-economic development. Rosatom's expansion into Africa includes partnerships with Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, Rwanda, and other countries, reflecting its strategic efforts to tap into the continent's economic potential and strengthen its nuclear footprint.

X-energy Reactor Company and TransAlta Corporation will conduct a feasibility study on deploying an X-energy Xe-100 advanced small modular nuclear reactor at a repurposed fossil fuel power plant in Alberta. The study, supported by Canada-based nuclear and engineering firms, aims to assess economic viability, regulatory impacts, and licensing requirements, with funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta. This initiative aligns with Alberta's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with X-energy targeting deployment of the first advanced small modular reactor in Alberta by the early 2030s.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed interest in constructing two additional units at the Rooppur nuclear power plant during a meeting with Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev. Part of the discussions included the possibility of a multi-purpose high-power research reactor and the option of floating nuclear power plants and small modular reactors. The Rooppur plant, featuring two Russian VVER-1200 reactors, is a significant project for Bangladesh, with construction of the first unit scheduled for completion by the end of the year and plans for further expansion to meet the country's energy needs.

Russian nuclear power utility Rosatom held the two-day International Forum ATOMEXPO-2024, setting a record in terms of the number of participants with about 4,500 from 75 countries. Countries participating in the Forum for the first time include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Iraq. In addition to agreements with developing countries, one of the core topics of the event was generation-IV nuclear technologies, with one of the sessions dealing with the projects for the development of these technologies and arousing interest from the forum’s participants. New frameworks of nuclear power development in Russia were also outlined.

South Africa’s ambassador to the European Union, Tokozile Xasa, gave an outline of South Africa’s nuclear energy ambitions at the recent IAEA Nuclear Energy Summit. The country is preparing to issue a Request for Proposals this year for 2500 MW of new nuclear capacity. South Africa is developing its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Technology and also intends on leveraging its natural resources to become a global supplier of High Temperature Reactor fuel. Xasa added that South Africa deserves the opportunity to implement a complete nuclear fuel cycle for peaceful uses.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told the Nuclear Energy Summit that Serbia is seeking support from other countries on nuclear know-how and financing in order to meet its goal of getting 1200 megawatts of capacity from small modular reactors (SMR). Vucic noted that Serbia does not have experience in deploying nuclear power plants or financing them, adding that it needs to have some support from leading countries in the European Union. The construction of nuclear power plants and fuel production plants has been forbidden in Serbia since 1989, but the country’s current leadership is looking to deploy nuclear power in the future.

Thailand and the Philippines are charging ahead with plans to start nuclear reactors by the next decade. Thailand looks to unveil a national energy plan through 2037, which is expected to incorporate small modular reactors, and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently discussed the possibility of rolling out nuclear power when he met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The Philippines also plans to operate a commercial nuclear station in the early 2030s and previously signed an agreement with the United States that allows transfers of nuclear material, equipment, and information between the two countries.

Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has launched a strategic plan that will guide the development of its nuclear power program over the next 5 years as it prepares to build its first nuclear power plant. The 2023-2027 Strategic Plan identifies six key result areas for six strategic issues, which include nuclear infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement and advocacy, energy research and innovation, and energy capacity development. NuPEA’s proposed roadmap and strategy for nuclear power infrastructure development sees the construction and commissioning of the country’s first nuclear power plant by 2034.

Rosatom and the regional government of Primorsky Krai have signed an agreement for a feasibility study and location options for floating nuclear power plants off its coast. The agreement was signed at the Atomexpo 2024 event in Sochi and aims to produce reliable and carbon-free electricity for the region. Russia currently has one floating nuclear power plant in operation, the Akademik Lomonosov, and is also seeking to form a joint venture with Russian companies for the construction and operation of floating nuclear units for foreign markets.

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced plans to invest $252 million in the country’s nuclear submarine-building capacity and civil nuclear industry, which would create 40,000 jobs in the process. Under the plan, the government will create a fund for the English town of Barrow-in-Furness to help people taking up jobs in the nuclear sector, as well as partner with industry players to invest $962 million in skills, jobs, and education by 2030. The UK’s nuclear industry is experiencing a period of growth due to the government’s nuclear energy targets, which will require 123,000 new workers by 2030.

The United Kingdom’s government awarded £3.34 million ($4.23 million) in funding to X-energy and Cavendish Nuclear to develop plans for the deployment of X-energy’s Xe-100 high temperature gas-cooled reactor in the country. The £120 million fund was launched by the British government in 2022 with the aim of helping industry reduce project risks so they are better positioned for future investment decisions. The Xe-100 is a Generation IV advanced reactor designed to operate as a standard 320 MWe four-pack power plant.

France’s nuclear power generators boosted nuclear output during the first quarter of 2024 to the highest level for this period since 2021, helping the country re-establish itself as Europe’s most important clean electricity producer and exporter. French utilities produced just over 4 million kilowatt hours of electricity from nuclear power plants in the first three months of this year, up 13.4% from the same period in 2023. France’s power producers have substantially recovered from a series of issues that curbed nuclear generation in recent years.

French nuclear fuel company Orano is considering building a uranium enrichment facility in the United States in an effort to reduce its reliance on enriched uranium imports from Russia. Orano had previously planned to build such a facility in Idaho during the late 2000s but abandoned the project after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown. These plans have now been resurrected, although Orano chairman Claude Imauven did not provide details on how advanced the plans were.

South Korea’s Ministry of Science & ICT (MSIT) signed a memorandum of understanding with 8 Korean companies to cooperate on the development of next-generation nuclear reactors. The ministry said the MoU will serve as a foundation for disseminating the results accumulated through government-led research and development to the private sector and promoting private-led technology development, demonstration, and commercialization. The government and companies will strive to develop and deploy the Korean-designed SMART small modular reactor, molten salt reactors, and sodium-cooled fast reactors.

An IAEA team of experts has completed a nuclear security mission at Japan’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, aiming to assess the enhancement of the physical protection measures at the plant and to provide further advice as necessary to the facility’s operator. The team observed Tokyo Electric Power Company’s (Tepco) commitment to improving nuclear security and identified continuous improvements in several areas of the plant’s physical protection system. The team also provided Tepco with several recommendations and suggestions for further improvement.

Uranium enrichment services provider Urenco has broken ground on an expansion of its plant in Almelo, the Netherlands. The project will see multiple new centrifuge cascades added to an existing plant at the site, adding about 750 tons of separative work units (SWU) per year. This is the third major investment to be approved under Urenco’s capacity program to strengthen the nuclear fuel supply chain worldwide in addition to its projects in Germany and the United States.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced that it has successfully connected Barakah Unit 4 to the transmission grid. The reactor has begun delivering electricity to the United Arab Emirates’ grid weeks after achieving criticality. The APR-1400 unit will now undergo power ascension testing, where it will be continuously monitored and tested as its power levels are gradually raised to full capacity, after which it will be declared to be in commercial operation.

The Swiss power supply firm Axpo is currently examining whether the world’s oldest nuclear power plant in Beznau can continue to operate for longer than 60 years. The Breznau Nuclear Power Plant has been operational since 1969 and is currently planned to be taken off the grid in 2030. While the Swiss government decided in 2011 to phase out nuclear power, operational nuclear power plants will remain operational until they reach the end of their service life. As such, the possible further commissioning of the Breznau Nuclear Power Plant is a controversial proposal in Switzerland.

The French government selected molten salt reactor developers Thorizon and Stellaria for funding through the France 2030 national investment plan. Launched by President Emmanuel Macron in 2021, the France 2030 re-industrialization plan is endowed with €54 billion ($58 billion) in funding schemes to be deployed over five years. In addition to the molten salt reactor funding, Macron is also funding €1 billion for the Nuward small modular reactor (SMR) project.

A Russian vessel, the Atlantic Navigator II, has been held in dock at the German seaport of Rostock for three weeks after enriched uranium was found on board. The enriched uranium was intended to be shipped to U.S. nuclear power plants, but German customs has banned the vessel from continuing its journey as the enriched uranium is subject to European Union sanctions. The company that owns the Russian vessel filed a protest against the detention order, but it was not upheld.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) Loan Programs Office has conditionally committed up to $1.52 billion to Holtec for its project to restart the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. Subject to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approvals, the project aims to bring the plant back online and upgrade it to produce baseload clean power until at least 2051. Holtec will be required to satisfy numerous conditions before the DoE enters into definitive financing documents and funds the loan. If the project proceeds, this will be the first nuclear power plant in the United States to return to commercial operations after being closed down.

Several nuclear nonproliferation experts and scholars submitted a letter to the Biden administration expressing concern about a recently announced plan by U.S. company SHINE to build a domestic commercial pilot reprocessing plant. The experts state that the facility would extract enough nuclear-weapons-usable plutonium for more than 100 atomic bombs annually and thereby violate the Biden administration’s nuclear energy policy and break a half-century U.S. abstention from civil reprocessing. The letter references the Biden administration’s NSM-19 and asks the government to not support federal funding or licensing for SHINE’s proposed reprocessing plant or any other non-weapons facility that would increase the production or use of nuclear weapons-usable material.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued new guidance documents to facilitate the licensing process for non-light water reactor designs. The guidance is expected to significantly reduce the regulatory uncertainty for new reactor concepts that don’t fit the mold of conventional reactor technologies. This would benefit U.S. advanced reactor vendors such as TerraPower and X-energy, both of which are applying this guidance to their construction permit applications to be submitted to the NRC within the year.

The environmental group Friends of the Earth has sued the U.S. Department of Energy over its decision to award over $1 billion to help keep California’s Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant running beyond its planned closure of 2025. Friends of the Earth argues that the award to plant operator Pacific Gas & Electric was based on an outdated and flawed analysis that failed to recognize the risk of earthquakes or other serious events. The Biden administration previously approved $1.1 billion in funding for the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant to remain operational under its civil nuclear credit program, which is intended to bail out financially distressed operators of nuclear power reactors.

The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Secretary Christine Wormuth asking for the Department of Defense to bolster the protection and resilience of critical infrastructure. In particular, the Committee encourages the DoD and the U.S. Army to consider energy supply sources such as advanced civil nuclear technology for critical mission demands and increased resilience for U.S. states. The letter cites U.S. adversaries China and Russia as investing state resources in developing and deploying the next generation of nuclear reactors while actively pursuing long-term global contracts for nuclear energy.

The Department of Energy published an information guide for communities considering replacing their retired or retiring coal power plants with nuclear plants. The guide is based on a technical study that found transitioning from a coal plant to a nuclear one would create additional higher paying jobs, create hundreds of jobs locally, and spur millions of dollars in increased revenues and economic activity in the host community. In the United States, nearly 30% of the nation’s coal plants are projected to retire by 2035, and the DoE’s study found that more than 300 existing and retired coal power plants could convert to nuclear plants.

Unit 4 at the Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant in Georgia has reached 100% power for the first time, a sign that the reactor may be nearing completion after years of setbacks. Unit 4 was originally supposed to begin providing electricity by the end of March this year, but an issue discovered in one of its cooling systems meant the company missed the deadline. The problem has now been fixed, with Unit 4 now expected to come online between April and June of this year. The new Vogtle units are the first new commercial nuclear reactors built in the United States in more than three decades.

Washington state governor Jay Inslee signed legislation that establishes nuclear fusion power as a source of clean energy that could help the state meet its climate goals. SHB 1942 also requires the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and the Department of Health to form a work group of relevant state agencies to begin exploring pathways for permitting, siting, and licensing fusion energy plants. A few companies such as Helion Energy and Zap are currently aiming to deploy commercial fusion power plants in Washington state by the end of the decade.

TerraPower announced the submission of its construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the Natrium reactor demonstration project. TerraPower is the first company to submit its construction permit application for a commercial advanced reactor to the NRC, and also recently submitted the second round of contracts for long-lead suppliers supporting the Natrium reactors’ development. The Natrium technology is an advanced reactor design featuring a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a final site-specific Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) for the subsequent renewal of the licenses for Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 in Florida. The final EIS evaluates all the environmental impacts of continued operation of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 during the subsequent license renewal term. The NRC’s Atomic Safety Licensing Board is conducting a proceeding regarding the environmental review, following which the agency will make a final decision on extending the Turkey Point licenses into the subsequent license renewal term.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report arguing that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) needs to factor more risk from the impact of more extreme natural events in how it licenses the safety of nuclear power plants. With the possibility of climate change driving more extreme weather events in areas where nuclear power plants operate, the GAO found that the NRC does not factor climate projections data in its safety risk assessments. Additionally, the agency also doesn’t re-evaluate natural hazard or climate-related events in its license renewal process beyond a power plant’s initial 40-year licensing period.

The Nuclear Energy Agency released a report on the many types of legal challenges that can be raised in the context of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The aim of the report is to provide insight into frameworks for legal challenges related to nuclear safety and identify commonalities and differences that contribute to different countries’ approaches. By collecting information from nearly 25 NEA member and non-member countries, the report provides an overall review of the different approaches taken by countries to legal challenges related to nuclear safety, as well as nearly 40 case summaries and an extensive chart of nuclear law cases from 1987 to the present day.

The Nuclear Energy Agency co-organized a workshop in the Netherlands with the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) to explore the latest developments in preparations for the long-term operation (LTO) of existing nuclear power plants beyond sixty years. Around 40 nuclear experts from numerous organizations came together to discuss nuclear industry and regulatory authority activities, plans, challenges, and needs in preparation for safe LTO. The NEA had previously published a report on LTO of Nuclear Power Plants and Decarbonization Strategies.

The Wall Street Journal, March 29

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