Greetings! In this issue we highlight Russia’s nuclear collaboration agreement with Argentina, China’s nuclear technology advancements, and Xcel Energy’s recent pledge to reach 100% carbon-free generation by 2050.  We also feature a new PGS publication titled "Nuclear Power in a New Era: Four Essential Policy Pillars for its Future."

4 Essential Policy Pillars for Nuclear Power

In a new publication noted below, PGS President Kenneth Luongo identifies the 4 key policy pillars necessary for nuclear power to provide global value in the 21st century, explaining its vital role in supporting de-carbonization, strengthening geopolitical competitiveness, prioritizing innovation and technology, and leading on global security and governance. The paper offers recommendations for policy makers, NGOs, philanthropic organizations and the private sector that aim to address current gaps in nuclear policy and institutional structures. Successfully developing and integrating these four policy pillars can support the cultural shift that is necessary to position nuclear power as a solution to 21st century problems, not a contributor to them.

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Report Release - "Nuclear Power in a New Era: Four Essential Policy Pillars For its Future" There is a strong case to be made for the societal value of nuclear power in the 21st century that is compelling and globally important.

Nuclear Policy, Governance, and Geopolitics

Representatives   gathered  in Katowice, Poland, for the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) to set the course for action on climate change and to discuss implementation plans for the 2015 Paris Agreement. Experts from the International Energy Agency   said   nuclear energy had an important role to play in reaching climate goals. The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry,  concluded  a visit to Saudi Arabia where he expressed that the country continues to be an important ally in the energy field, and worked on developing a possible partnership in civil nuclear energy. Poland does not want to finance new nuclear projects with debt, according to the country’s top energy infrastructure official. Poland plans to have a total of 6-9 GW of nuclear power by 2043 and wants to continue talks about future projects with the U.S. China General Nuclear announced that it is ready to ramp-up plans for a new nuclear power plant (NPP) to be built in the UK, this follows Toshiba’s decision to withdraw from its nuclear build project last month. In Japan, a public-private consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will abandon a nuclear power project in Turkey, which was to have been a model for future nuclear infrastructure exports from Japan. With the Turkish plan canceled, Japan’s only remaining overseas project will be a plant in the U.K. planned by Hitachi .

Nuclear Security and Emerging Technologies The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) established a new research center for nuclear fuels and materials development. According to the CNNC chairman, the facility is a significant step toward building an advanced nuclear science industrial system in China. Separately, CNNC revealed a new high-safety distributed control system platform for nuclear power plants that is expected to boost China’s nuclear technology exports.

Nuclear Collaboration

Russia’s Rosatom   signed   a framework agreement with Argentina on the development of  nuclear   power, at a time when Argentina is said to be close to an agreement with China to build a new, $8bn reactor in the country. News reports noted that Rosatom has become the nuclear industry’s undisputed leader, with an export order book worth $133 billion.

Domestic Civil Nuclear Developments

Xcel Energy announced that it plans to eliminate carbon emissions from its power plants by 2050 using “ zero-carbon ” sources, making it the first major multi-state U.S. utility to commit to phasing out pollutants. The company will reach its goal by adding renewable energy sources and retiring fossil fuel generators while continuing the operation of its two nuclear plants.  As one third of America’s nuclear power is at risk of being taken offline in the coming years, calls for action are growing, from congressional leaders and utilities, to keep nuclear plants open as a clean solution for addressing climate change.

The Nuclear Consensus

A local government in South Korea passed a symbolic resolution requesting the Moon administration to reconsider the nuclear phase-out policy. In response to the recent election, the government of Taiwan agreed to abolish the deadline for the nuclear phase-out policy and instead made the phase-out a more “long-term goal.” Russia’s nuclear floating power plant is encouraging growth in population and new infrastructure projects in the Arctic town of Pevek.

The Nuclear Conversation

China's Losing its Taste for Nuclear Power. That's Bad News. MIT, Dec. 12 Russia and China Eye Control of the Global Nuclear Industry Washington Examiner, Dec. 4 Here’s How Much Climate Change Could Cost the U.S. Scientific America, Dec. 3 New Technologies not Paris Climate Agreement, Will do the Job Financial Times, Nov. 28

For more than a decade, the Partnership for Global Security (PGS) has developed actionable responses to global security challenges by engaging international, private sector, and multidisciplinary expert partners to assess policy needs, identify effective strategies, and drive demonstrable results.

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