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Greetings!
This is the last issue of PGS’ Nuclear News for 2025. Nuclear News and Views will return in mid-January 2026. Thank you for being a loyal reader and Happy Holidays!
In this week’s newsletter, we examine the national security problems posed by an over-exuberant nuclear energy bubble. We spotlight a report from the Rockefeller Foundation which assesses the role of nuclear energy in powering emerging economy countries and argues that expanding nuclear power is a cost-effective way to meet emissions targets and improve energy abundance. Finally, we highlight key nuclear technology, security, and geopolitical developments, reports, and analyses.
Special Note: We want to remind you of the opportunity to register for the March 26-27, 2026 MIT Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems (CANES) conference on, Nuclear Energy Dominance: Can the U.S. Do It Alone.
This issue of Nuclear News and Views was produced by PGS Program Director, Patrick Kendall, and Della Ratta Energy and Global Security Fellows, Mackenzie Hansen and Gabriela Zanko.
| | National Security Impact of Irrational Nuclear Energy Exuberance | | |
A longer version of this article was published by The Center for the National Interest and it can be found here.
Nuclear energy evangelists becoming multi-millionaires and paper billionaires based on yet-to-be-proven projects represents the essence of the market’s power and the risk-taking that is required to resurrect America’s nuclear industry. But if this process leads to an irrationally exuberant nuclear power bubble that will ultimately melt down, it will undermine important pillars of U.S. national security.
This is an emerging and potentially serious flaw in the Trump administration’s approach to rebuilding nuclear power. There does not seem to be a plan for preventing overhyped nuclear Theranos. And repeating the cycle of over-promise followed by failure so well known in the nuclear energy ecosystem, can crater the rising appeal of nuclear power.
Trump’s Nuclear Torrent
There’s not much discernible strategy behind the Trump administration’s expansive nuclear power ambitions, but there is a clear logic—supercharge all possible pathways to success and hope for the best. Like many of the Trump administration’s initiatives, its nuclear energy plan is designed to blast away bureaucratic inertia, wreck perceived regulatory impediments, and render results with the least resistance.
Perhaps this is the shock therapy that the nuclear power sector needs to overcome stagnation and spark success. But right now, it seems questionable that the scattershot approach being pursued can meet the vital goal of aggressively scaling power reactors in America.
One example is the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program. The demand from the President is that something new produce fission by July 4, 2026, to coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary. This program includes 11 reactor pilot projects and faces a host of unanswered questions.
The urgency embedded in this initiative is laudable, but a rushed, gimmicky showpiece is not a stable foundation from which to launch a solid strategy that can produce 300 gigawatts (GW) of new nuclear power by 2050 or result in global nuclear energy domination. That goal requires a medium- to long-term game plan featuring a range of marketable reactor types and power ratings that the administration has not yet created.
It is in these circumstances of pushing rapidly beyond the old limits but not fully appreciating the downsides of an “app-influenced” mentality of moving fast and breaking things that nuclear bubble products begin to float to the surface.
Nuclear Power and National Security
The administration has identified nuclear energy as a national security priority, which is an important decision. But that national security value rests on a set of pillars that are vulnerable to an implosion if the Trump nuclear salvo fails.
Strengthening US and Allied Energy Independence: Energy independence has re-emerged as a vital geopolitical imperative in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This has led to a significant increase in the pursuit of nuclear power, particularly in Eastern Europe. But other nations, including the United Kingdom and Japan, are also moving forward with nuclear power expansion for energy security purposes. A solid consortium of Western nuclear suppliers, including the U.S., is essential to maintain this momentum.
Expanding Allies in Emerging Markets: The United States and its allies need to be able to compete in the emerging nuclear markets as well as established OECD nations. Many of these nations are better suited for small reactors. To realize this opportunity, the United States and its allies must do a better job of preparing these countries for Western technology by finding creative engagement strategies. Russia and China already operate SMRs and are working with a vast swatch of the Global South on energy and infrastructure. Also, Russia remains the world’s major nuclear energy exporter while China is orchestrating the largest nuclear energy buildout in history. The Trump plan is focused on the technology competition, but it also needs a complementary diplomatic and export market capture strategy.
Winning the Tech Revolution: Winning the artificial intelligence (AI) competition with China is a defining element of Trump’s foreign policy and the administration’s nuclear power plan is driven by the projected explosion of data centers to feed that industry. These data centers collectively could consume as much electricity as “nearly 16 Chicago’s” by 2030. Nuclear power is not ready for this energy explosion, and the scattershot Trump strategy could create further delays. No Westinghouse AP-1000’s are under contract or construction in America and only one American SMR company has received a design certification. Despite the Trump nuclear acceleration policies, small reactor companies are primarily looking at the mid-2030s for deployment. By then, data center mania may have passed its peak, raising questions about how these reactors will fare in the wake of that market satiation.
Building Nuclear Expansion Guardrails: As nuclear power expands, the international policy framework that ensures the safety and proliferation resistance of these technologies needs to adapt. The United States and its allies are best positioned, politically, to develop the adjustments and nuances for this new regime. But historically, the dominant nuclear power operator and exporter have written the rules. And, at the moment, that is Russia and China.
| | Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security | | | | |
Spotlight
The Rockefeller Foundation, Radiant Energy, and Bayesian Energy published a new report assessing the role of nuclear energy in powering eight emerging economy countries: Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Rwanda, and South Africa. Upon analyzing these countries, the report argues that expanding nuclear power is a cost-effective way to meet emissions targets and improve energy abundance. The modeling shows that with nuclear energy representing 10 to 30% of generation in cost-optimal pathways, this will lower total system costs by 2 to 31% compared to a renewable-energy-only trajectory. The report states that renewable energy and nuclear power should be seen as complementary energy sources rather than as rivals. However, the report also acknowledges that there are significant barriers to deploying nuclear power at scale such as limited governing capacity and challenges with financing nuclear projects.
| | Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security | | Issues of Special Interest | | Global AI and Data Center Energy | | Tech startup Atomic Canyon will be using the Frontier supercomputer to train nuclear-specific AI models to speed up document search and analysis capabilities for nuclear reactors at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Atomic Canyon and the Diablo Canyon Power Plant used the Frontier supercomputer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop novel AI models in order to reduce the time, labor, and resources the nuclear industry spends searching complex nuclear documents related to power plant operations. Through the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility’s Discretion allocation program, Atomic Canyon was awarded 20,000 GPU hours on the Frontier supercomputer. | | The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine on International Nuclear Affairs | | |
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is operating with reduced off-site electricity supply after one of its external power connections was disabled during fighting. According to plant operators, safety conditions remain stable and radiation readings are within normal limits. Although the reactors are shut down, the site still needs a steady power supply to run cooling systems and maintain nuclear safety. The plant has faced repeated interruptions to its power links in recent weeks, including temporary total losses of external electricity.
According to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, Ukraine’s unstable electrical grid continues to pose serious challenges to nuclear safety, repeatedly disrupting off-site power at the country’s main nuclear facilities. On December 6th, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost all external power for about 30 minutes, the 11th such event during the conflict, triggering emergency diesel generators to maintain reactor cooling and safety systems. Despite these challenges, all emergency systems functioned as intended, and the IAEA continues to monitor operations closely while supporting grid resilience and nuclear safety measures.
The Chernobyl nuclear plant’s protective shield was damaged during a drone strike, leaving it unable to perform its main safety functions, including confinement. While the structure’s main load-bearing elements and monitoring systems were not permanently harmed, the agency stressed that further restoration is needed to prevent long-term safety risks. Ukraine has blamed Russia for the attack, which Moscow denies, though radiation levels have remained stable with no reported releases. The inspection took place amid broader IAEA efforts to assess war-related damage to Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.
| | Global Nuclear Developments, Geopolitics, & Governance | | A Bloomberg gauge of nuclear stocks has jumped 38% in 2025, reaching an all-time high and adding $566 billion in total market value. Some of the company shares that experienced the greatest growth were Oklo Inc., whose shares have surged around 400%, and Doosan Enerbility’s stocks, which increased by 330%. Global fund managers see this year’s surge in nuclear stocks continuing as a result of an improving regulatory outlook and demand drivers that include the needs of artificial intelligence data centers. Energy demand for data centers is expected to triple over the next decade. | | Rosatom has developed a new production process for lithium-7 fluoride, a key material needed for future molten salt reactors in Russia. While Russia currently lacks industrial production of lithium-7 fluoride, the new solid-phase synthesis method uses lithium-7 hydroxide as a feedstock and reduces isotope losses and fluorine waste. Rosatom says the technology is environmentally friendly and could be scaled to produce up to one ton per year. The development supports Russia’s ongoing molten salt reactor program, with reactor design work continuing through 2027 and a prototype planned for 2031. | | |
A report from the United States Congress states that China is exploiting partnerships with Department of Energy researchers to provide the Chinese military with access to sensitive nuclear technology and other innovations with national security applications. The report’s authors say the U.S. government must do more to protect high-tech research and recommends several changes to bolster the security of scientific research including nuclear. The investigation is part of a congressional push to block U.S. research from boosting China’s military buildup amidst the U.S.-Chinese rivalry in technology and arms.
An official from China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced that China will start commercial operation of its homegrown Linglong One small modular reactor (SMR) in the first half of 2026. Also known as the APC-100, the Linglong One was the first SMR to be approved by the IAEA in 2016, with the Hainan power plant project breaking ground in 2021. The President of the China Institute of Nuclear Industry Strategy, Wang Zhenqing, stated that these SMRs will mainly be used to meet electricity demand in areas where the national grid is cheaper such as on islands like Hainan.
China and France agreed to reaffirm their partnership in the field of nuclear energy development and industry following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Additionally, China’s National Atomic Energy Agency (CAEA) and the French Commission for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies (CEA) signed their 15th protocol on cooperation in nuclear research, fusion technology, and the management of the nuclear fuel cycle. France and China have collaborated on nuclear energy for over 40 years.
China’s Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant reached a major commissioning milestone as Unit 3 successfully completed cold functional testing, allowing the project to move from installation into the commissioning phase. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said the tests confirmed the integrity and performance of the reactor’s primary systems, supporting safe and stable future operation. Xudabao Unit 3 is one of two Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors being built at the site under China–Russia nuclear cooperation agreements, with commercial operation targeted for 2027, followed by Unit 4 in 2028.
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The European Commission has determined that the planned public support for Poland’s first nuclear power plant complies with European Union rules on state aid. The Polish government notified the European Commission about its intention to support its $47 billion investment in the power plant in September of last year. Poland’s government selected Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor technology for construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in Pomerania, and the aim is for the first reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033.
Poland’s Synthos Green Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung C&T Corporation to explore future partnership opportunities for the deployment of GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) technology in Central and Eastern Europe. The two companies will collaborate on feasibility studies, site surveys, and environmental impact assessments necessary for the development of Synthos’ Polish SMR project. GE Hitachi’s first BWRX-300 SMR is currently under construction at the Darlington site in Canada.
Six nuclear regulators completed the second phase of a joint early review of France’s Nuward small modular reactor (SMR) design. The final report of the second phase follows the early joint regulatory review which identified key issues towards the hypothetical licensing of a Nuward SMR in three countries: France, Finland, and the Czech Republic. The Nuward project was launched in 2019 with the purpose of building a power plant consisting of two pressurized water reactors, and the company aims to finalize the conceptual design of the reactor by mid-2026.
Newcleo submitted its small modular lead-cooled fast reactor design to Euratom for a safeguards-by-design review, a new mandatory requirement under EU nuclear regulation that integrates safeguards into the early design phase. This process is one pillar of the EU’s “3S” nuclear licensing framework, alongside safety and security, and marks one of the first such engagements by an SMR developer. The company says the submission advances its progress toward obtaining a nuclear license in France, with the safeguards review expected to take about two years and run alongside national licensing.
The French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) issued a favorable opinion of Andra’s application for a license to construct the Cigéo repository for radioactive waste. The ANSR said its technical appraisal included a standard expert review and investigation process, alongside dialogues with stakeholders. Andra plans to construct its Cigéo repository facility near the French town of Bure and is expected to hold 83,000 cubic meters of high-level and intermediate-level waste. The receipt of the first waste packages is planned for 2050.
France’s Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor has reached 100% power for the first time after the nuclear regulator approved it to operate beyond 80% during commissioning. Électricité de France (EDF) said reaching full power allows comprehensive testing of equipment and systems, with output set to vary in the coming weeks as further checks are completed. The 1,650 MWe pressurized water reactor has been in commissioning since May last year, with fuel loading completed and grid connection achieved in December 2024.
British regulators have concluded that GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor appears suitable for construction in the United Kingdom following Step 2 of the Generic Data Assessment (GDA). The regulators found that there are no fundamental safety, security, or environmental protection shortfalls with the design that would prevent its deployment in the country. The BWRX-300 is a water-cooled SMR developed by GE Hitachi, with the company submitting its GDA entry application back in 2022. However, there are currently no plans to deploy the BWRX-300 design in Great Britain.
Holtec International signed a memorandum of understanding with Hungary’s state-owned energy company MVM to create a pathway for deploying Holtec’s SMR-300 small modular reactors in Hungary. The agreement builds on a broader US–Hungary nuclear energy MoU and aims to strengthen Hungary’s energy independence with carbon-free baseload power while supporting energy-intensive industries. U.S. and Hungarian governments have signaled ambitions to make Budapest a regional hub for SMRs, with Hungary potentially supporting up to 10 SMR units worth as much as $20 billion.
U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico to visit the United States in 2026 to sign an agreement that could allow Westinghouse to participate in a Slovakian nuclear power plant project. Slovakia is currently in the process of developing a new 1,200 MW nuclear reactor unit and has named Westinghouse as its preferred partner. Feasibility studies and a final contract are expected in 2027 after the signing of the intergovernmental agreement.
Estonia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications has announced a public procurement for consultancy services for the preparation of work towards selecting a location for a 600 megawatt nuclear power plant and environmental impact assessments. The Estonian government initiated the state spatial planning process for the nuclear power plant in May of this year, and a working group has also been established for the project. Fermi Energia expects to submit a construction permit application for the proposed plant in 2029, with construction targeted to begin in 2031.
Finland’s Ministry of Employment and the Economy granted Posiva Oy a third extension deadline to complete its assessment of the operating license application for the Olkiluoto used nuclear fuel repository. The regulator statement is now expected by mid-2026. Posiva Oy originally submitted its application for an operating license for the used fuel encapsulation plant and final disposal facility currently under construction, which will be the first used nuclear fuel repository in the world. A positive opinion by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) is required before the government can give its final decision on the application.
Finland’s SEATOM Technologies Oy has been selected to join NATO’s Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 Challenge Program. SEATOM is among 150 companies from 24 NATO countries chosen to develop dual-use technologies addressing key defense and security challenges. Under the Operations in Extreme Environments challenge, the company will advance its submersible micro-reactor concept for naval and seabed operations through DIANA’s six-month core program. The program begins in January 2026 and aims to accelerate innovative technologies that strengthen NATO’s operational capabilities.
Swedish nuclear startup Blykalla AB has raised $50 million of fresh capital to accelerate its work on a small modular reactor (SMR) that could help power data centers and other facilities. The round was co-led by Oklo Inc., Norrsken Launcher, and Armada Investment, and it also involved hyperscaler and cloud-computing firms. Blykalla is currently working on a lead-cooled SMR that could be deployed at a site in southeast Sweden, and the company recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore developing Sweden’s first nuclear-powered data center.
The Norwegian municipalities of Lyngdal and Farsund approved becoming co-owners of Lister Kjernekraft AS, Norsk Kjernekraft’s a nuclear project development company. Their co-ownership, supported by broad political majorities, gives them founder rights, future income potential, and influence over the project’s development. Norsk Kjernekraft plans to investigate building several small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Lister region, which could eventually supply up to 12.5 TWh of stable electricity and heat, around 8% of Norway’s current power production.
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India’s Parliament has passed a bill that proposes a new legal framework for India’s nuclear sector. The SHANTI Bill seeks to repeal the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act and replace them with a comprehensive law that will be better aligned with India’s present and future nuclear energy requirements. The bill proposes a revised civil liability framework for nuclear damage and will also enable private companies to apply for licenses to set up and operate nuclear facilities and to transport nuclear fuel.
Lead units for three small modular reactor (SMR) designs being developed by India’s Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) are planned to be built at the Tarapur and Vizag campuses. The 200 MWe Bharat SMR and the SMR-55 are proposed to be built at Tarapur while the 5 MWt high-temperature gas-cooled reactor will be located at Vizag. Minister of State Jitendra Singh recently stated that a provision in the 2025-2026 budget of $2.5 billion will be used to operationalize at least five indigenously designed SMRs in India by 2033 and added that the Bharat SMR is in an advanced stage of obtaining financial and administrative sanction.
India and Russia are aiming to finalize a site for a second Russian-built nuclear power plant in India as part of efforts to expand broader bilateral cooperation in the nuclear sector. Following talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President, the joint statement added that cooperation will also include life cycle support for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, collaboration in the development of advanced reactors, and accelerating technical and commercial discussions on deploying additional VVER units. India’s Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is home to two operational Russian VVER-1000 reactors, with four more under construction.
The first delivery of nuclear fuel for the initial loading of India’s Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 has taken place, with the fuel assemblies being flown from the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant in Russia. The fuel was delivered under a contract signed in 2024 which covers the fuel supply for units 3 and 4 for their entire operating lives. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant currently operates two Russian-designed nuclear reactors, and four additional units are currently under construction.
South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries has developed a floating offshore nuclear power platform that is capable of mounting various types of small modular reactors (SMR). The company obtained Approval in Principle from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its floating SMR that will be equipped with two SMART 100 units. In the certification, Samsung Heavy Industries was responsible for the SMR and floating body integration while the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) performed the task of converting the land-based SMR SMART 100 for offshore use.
X-energy has signed a reservation agreement with South Korean nuclear component manufacturer Doosan Enerbility for key components for its Xe-100 small modular reactors (SMR). Under the agreement, X-energy secures Doosan Enerbility’s forgings, with follow-up agreements on commencing the manufacturing of the SMR forgings and modules expected to take place between the two companies. Doosan Enerbility made an equity investment in X-energy in 2023 and also signed a strategic collaboration agreement this year to accelerate the deployment of the Xe-100 to meet the growing power demand from data centers.
Japan’s Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki approved the restart of the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, marking a major step for Hokkaido Electric Power Company toward its goal of resuming operations at Tomari in early 2027. Tomari Unit 3 cleared safety screenings by Japan’s nuclear regulator and is on track to restart operations after being suspended since 2012. Tomari is one of many reactors that the Japanese government is seeking to resume operations, with the governor of Niigata prefecture approving the restart of two reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant last month.
Japanese ambassador Naoki Ito announced that Japan has dropped out of plans to build the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant in Vietnam because the time frame was too tight. Russia and Japan were both considered as partners for Vietnam’s nuclear power projects back in the early 2010s, but these plans were halted in 2016 over safety and budget concerns. However, Vietnam’s government is reconsidering the adoption of nuclear power as a result of major power blackouts in the country caused by extreme weather.
Kazakhstan’s government announced several advancements towards its adoption of nuclear power, including the construction of a second nuclear power plant and its intention to broaden its nuclear energy collaboration with the European Union. Russian and Kazakh entities also confirmed their intention to work together to build a multipurpose research reactor and laboratory complex. Kazakhstan is working towards the construction of the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, with Rosatom selected as the leader of the international consortium building this plant.
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Niger’s military government announced plans to market uranium produced at the SOMAÏR mine on international markets, signaling a significant break with France’s Orano. Officials indicated that selling uranium independently would allow Niger to diversify buyers, increase state revenues, and reduce reliance on a single foreign partner at a time of heightened political and diplomatic tensions with France. The decision underscores the growing uncertainty facing Western nuclear fuel supply chains that rely on African uranium, as producer countries reassess ownership structures, export strategies, and geopolitical alignment.
Global Atomic Corporation postponed the planned start-up of the uranium processing facility at Niger’s Dasa mine to the second half of 2027, citing logistical and funding challenges that have slowed progress. The project requires an initial investment of $424 million, which is expected to largely come from external debt financing. This delay affects one of the country’s key future uranium production sites as the current government has moved to nationalize its uranium resources such as the SOMAÏR mine.
| | Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization spokesman indicated that Tehran may consider discussions on inspections of its nuclear facilities that were attacked earlier in 2025, but stressed that security conditions must be a priority and current safeguards arrangements do not address wartime situations. Iranian officials said they might engage in talks on access but want measures tailored to their interpretation of security and sovereignty needs, reflecting ongoing tensions following the November IAEA Board resolution demanding more transparency. This development comes after Iran formally declared that it was ending the Cairo cooperation agreement with the IAEA and asserted a more nationally controlled inspection policy. | | At a mining event in early December, a representative of Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) emphasized the need to resume domestic uranium production to reduce reliance on imports and support both national and global nuclear fuel supplies. According to CNEA official Luis López, expanding the use of in-situ leaching of the country’s uranium resources would yield 200 tons annually and meet the volume of uranium used nationally. Argentina’s uranium reserves and long lead times for new mines was noted as a strategic factor in future energy policy discussions. | | North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy | | |
President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after both houses of Congress passed the bill. The NDAA incorporates several nuclear-related provisions such as a version of the International Nuclear Energy Act (INEA) that underscores the need for stronger federal interagency coordination to support U.S. nuclear energy companies competing globally and the reauthorization of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation with expanded authority and financing. The bill also establishes a Department of Defense advanced nuclear transition working group and encourages further development of mobile nuclear reactors.
The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee, Douglas Weaver, for the last open spot on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Weaver’s nomination was passed with a bipartisan vote of 71-29 after he vowed to protect the agency’s independence. Weaver has significant experience working with the commission and in the private sector. Additionally, fellow NRC nominee Ho Nieh was sworn in as a commissioner for a term that will run until 2029.
Energy Department Secretary Chris Wright told The Washington Free Beacon that the Department of Energy is preparing to finance the construction of up to 10 nuclear power plants in order to usher in a U.S. nuclear energy renaissance. Wright added that the agency will use its rebranded Office of Energy Dominance Financing to provide low-interest loans for these reactors. The Trump administration is looking to expand the country’s nuclear fleet, setting the goal of quadrupling the nation’s nuclear capacity over the next decade.
A sales agreement approved by South Carolina utility Santee Cooper would remove $2.7 billion worth of debt from customers’ power bills as part of the company’s planned restart of the VC Summer Nuclear Power Plant expansion project. The utility’s governing board passed an agreement with New York investment firm Brookfield Asset Management for the purchase of the two partially built nuclear reactors while Santee Cooper will maintain an ownership interest in the reactors of up to 25%. Santee Cooper originally sought to build two additional reactors at VC Summer but abandoned the project in 2017.
The Department of Energy has selected five initial companies for end user experiments at the Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) MARVEL reactor that encompasses projects related to data centers, technology application in commercial and advanced reactors, and applications for nuclear-generated process heat. Among the companies selected are Amazon Web Services, which proposes coupling the MARVEL reactor with a modular data center, and GE Vernova which plans to use MARVEL to demonstrate autonomous reactor operations. The selectees will now work with DoE and INL staff to determine the feasibility of their proposed applications using MARVEL.
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and John Cornyn have introduced bipartisan legislation to formally establish the Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy. The office would advance fusion energy, accelerate the research, development, and deployment of fusion technologies, and advance near-term and long-term fusion energy science in collaboration with the private sector. This legislation is in line with the Department of Energy’s recent reorganization plans that included the creation of an “Office of Fusion”.
Standard Nuclear announced it has signed an Other Transaction Agreement with the Department of Energy to bring privately funded advanced nuclear-fuel production infrastructure online in support of tristructural isotropic (TRISO) reactor demonstrations. Standard Nuclear will transition key operational elements with full DoE oversight which will enable a substantial increase in the company’s TRISO fuel manufacturing throughput. Standard Nuclear will draw on deep expertise from the Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory complexes to support this transition.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has proposed an amendment to its regulations that would insert conditional sunset dates into several obsolete regulations. The sunset rule will help trim provisions that are broadly unused, as well as implement a constant reexamination of future rules. This proposal is in response to President Donald Trump’s April executive order that called for the NRC to issue a “sunset rule” to effectively nullify certain regulations in order to expedite the deployment of nuclear reactors.
The Department of Energy announced $11 million in awards to five U.S. companies for the development and licensing of new or modified transportation packages of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). Some of the companies selected are NAC International, Westinghouse Electric, and American Centrifuge Operating. These projects seek to advance President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders that call for the rebuilding of the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle and the strengthening of domestic enrichment and fabrication capabilities.
Urenco USA has produced its first uranium enriched up to 8.5% in what Urenco describes as a first for a commercial uranium facility in the United States. It completed its initial production run on December 11 after being given Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) authorization to enrich uranium in September, with the goal of producing commercial quantities for customers in mid-2026. Urenco also announced that the third new cascade of centrifuges this year has begun production of low-enriched uranium (LEU).
Nuclear startup Deep Fission has chosen the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons, Kansas, for its pilot project and plans to build a full-scale commercial plant following the test reactor demonstration. The company says it intends to break ground for the demonstration project on December 9 and achieve criticality by July 2026, although these plans will be subject to authorization from the Department of Energy. Deep Fission’s Gravity reactor is a small modular reactor designed to be placed underground in an optimized borehole one mile deep.
San Luis Obispo County has ordered a study to explore the addition of new nuclear reactors at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. The SLO County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with Solestiss to assess the economic impact of keeping Diablo Canyon open for another 20 years with a portion of the study investigating the feasibility of developing a new advanced large-scale nuclear reactor and small modular reactors (SMR). Diablo Canyon currently operates two nuclear reactors, although current California state law prevents new nuclear units from being built.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) renewed the operating licenses of Constellation LLC’s Clinton Unit 1 and Dresden Units 2 and 3 in Illinois for an additional 20 years beyond the current expiration dates. The NRC reviews of these units addressed safety and environmental matters, with the commission issuing its safety evaluation and final supplemental environmental impact statements earlier this year. Illinois currently has 11 operational nuclear reactors, and the state government lifted the ban on new large nuclear units this October.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licenses for all three units at the Browns Ferry nuclear power station in Alabama, allowing for continued operation through the mid-2050s. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) said the renewed licenses support its long-term nuclear energy dominance strategy as it operates the Browns Ferry station along with the Sequoyah and Watts Bar nuclear power plants in Tennessee. All three Browns Ferry reactors are boiling water reactor units that have been operating since the 1970s.
| | American consortium Nuclear Laboratory Partners of Canada has taken responsibility for managing Canada’s Chalk River Laboratories along with cleaning up the Canadian government’s inventory of radioactive waste. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) stated earlier this year that the consortium’s contract is worth about $1.2 billion. Chalk River Laboratories is Canada’s largest science and technology research compound and also served as the birthplace for Canada’s CANDU nuclear reactor. | | There are no new updates for this region. | | |
Time to Go Nuclear? Inside the Battle to Power AI
Reuters, December 17
New Role for Nuclear Power Emerges in New York Energy Plan
Utility Dive, December 17
Asia Is Going Nuclear And the United States Should Help
Real Clear Defense, December 15
Relicensing Diablo Canyon Puts It in Good Company
Neutron Bytes, December 14
Clean, Limitless Energy Exists. China Is Going Big in the Race to Harness It.
The New York Times, December 13
Going Nuclear Without Blowing Up: How Rafael Grossi Risks His Life Tracking the World’s Most Dangerous Material
The New Yorker, December 12
Betting Big on a Nuclear-Waste Fueled Future: What Wyoming Shuns, Idaho Is Embracing
Cowboy State Daily, December 10
Understanding the NRC Independence Debate
The Ecomodernist, December 10
Can Ukraine’s Nuclear Sector Move Past Its Russian Heritage?
The Kyiv Independent, December 10
The Uranium Renaissance: Revitalizing America’s Nuclear Supply Chain
POWER Magazine, December 10
Reviving Nuclear Power
Real Clear Energy, December 10
Time to Build Reactors Fueled by Nuclear Waste
Real Clear Energy, December 10
Nuclear Energy Renaissance: Are We There Yet?
Rhodium Group, December 10
Trump Promised America’s ‘Nuclear Renaissance’. How’s It Going?
WBUR, December 10
AI Is About to Transform Nuclear Energy, and the United States Isn’t Ready
The National Interest, December 9
For Gen Z, Why Nuclear Energy Future Is a Unifying Force in a Divided World
Real Clear Energy, December 9
Nuclear Power Plants: Mitigating Delay Risks
Energy Intelligence, December 8
The Return of VC Summer Is More Than a Project. It Is a Promise for SC.
South Carolina Daily Gazette, December 8
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News items and summaries compiled by:
Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security
Mackenzie Hansen, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security
Gabriela Zanko, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security
| | For twenty-five years 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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