In this week’s issue, we discuss a recent joint statement between Russia and China further cementing their partnership across all aspects, and the implications for nuclear geopolitics, nonproliferation, and nuclear security. We also spotlight the European Commission’s amendments to the draft Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, concluding its decision to classify some natural gas and nuclear power as green investments. Finally, we highlight the latest deal signed between China National Nuclear Corp and Argentina, reviving an $8 billion construction project to build the Atucha III nuclear power plant.

Russia and China threw a gut punch in their confrontation with the U.S.-led international order in their summit joint statement last week. They are strategizing to “meet the growing demand of the leadership” of a “new era,” presumably one where the U.S. and its allies are downgraded to junior partners.

The U.S has had some success with this strategy in Eastern Europe, where it has chased Russia and China away.

This is where China can be a useful partner. It has developed a significant nuclear industrial base and the education and training capacities to support its proposed massive domestic nuclear energy build-out.

And China’s export potential was just provided a major lift by the U.K. regulatory and environmental authority, which confirmed that the Chinese-developed Hualong nuclear reactor meets U.K. standards of safety, security, and environmental protection.

This assessment was undertaken when Britain and China were considering the reactor for construction in the U.K. That has now changed and Britain is seeking to remove China as a partner in the project.

It also could provide China with the advantage it needs in cornering the nuclear power project in Saudi Arabia. That could be a dangerous partnership for global security.

The European Commission has announced its amendments to the controversial draft European Union Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, ultimately deciding to classify some natural gas and nuclear power as green investments. The draft plan will now be discussed by the European Union’s 27 nations over the next four months. The announcement has rallied several EU nations, environmental organizations, and investor groups in criticism. In addition, the European Investment Bank has suggested that it may decide to opt-out of labeling some gas and nuclear projects as green investments.

The World Nuclear Association has issued a statement in support of the recent announcement; however, also suggested that the amendment places unreasonable limitations on nuclear energy projects that are not scientifically justified. 

China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) has signed a contract with Argentina to build the Atucha III nuclear power plant (NPP). The $8 billion construction project, reviving a long-stalled deal, involves the “engineering, construction, acquisition, commissioning and delivery” of a Hualong One reactor.

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) in collaboration with Mitsubishi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Terrapower, a Bill Gates company, to develop the Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor. JAEA will further cooperate on modernizing numerous nuclear technologies in association with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regarding the development of sodium-cooled fast reactor technologies.

The Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) and Ukraine’s Energoatom have signed a MOU to cooperate on nuclear energy and related technologies. The MOU provides opportunities for supporting the deployment of both Canadian large-scale reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) in Ukraine. The agreement scope also extends to exploring nuclear decommissioning, medical isotopes, and hydrogen production with nuclear electricity.

The United Kingdom (UK) government has committed to £100 million in funding for the Sizewell C NPP project in Suffolk. When completed, the Sizewell C NPP would bring 3.2 GW, enough to power approximately six million homes, and would create up to 10,000 jobs across the UK.

The UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has granted permission to begin the next phase of work at the Hinkley Point C NPP. This major milestone for the project will take place over three years, beginning the installation work for the “bulk mechanical, electrical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (MEH) component[s].”

The UK’s ONR and Environmental Agency have approved of China’s UK Hualong One (HPR1000) reactor design, concluding that the design is “suitable for deployment in the UK.” The design was submitted through the UK’s Generic Design Assessment process as a joint application between China General Nuclear (CGN) and EDF.

Sweden has approved a final nuclear waste storage plan, granting the construction of a storage facility near the Forsmark NPP. After decades of planning, Sweden is now the second country, after Finland, to approve of a final storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

Finish operator Teollisuuden Voima has announced that the Olkiluoto 3 NPP is ready to be connected to the grid in early February. Originally planned to be ready in 2009, the long-delayed reactor looks to achieve full 1.6 GW output in June 2022. 

In a recent letter to California Governor Gavin Newson, nearly 80 scientists and academics have called on Governor Newson to reverse the decision to close the Diablo Canyon NPP. The letter cites efforts to fight global warming, asserting that “closing the plant is not only irresponsible, the consequences could be catastrophic.’

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed into law a bill lifting a longstanding ban on nuclear power plans, cautioning that development or deployment in the state “must be done thoughtfully and, above all, safely.” West Virginia originally instituted the ban on NPPs in 1996, citing issues related to waste disposal and economic feasibility.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has introduced a new bill that aims to streamline the siting approval process for micro-reactors in the state. The governor’s office stated that this move presents “the opportunity to explore what many experts believe may be a generational leap forward in terms of clean, reliable, and cost-effective off-grid power.” This comes as the U.S. Airforce announced its plans last year to site a micro-reactor at the Eielson Air Force Base.

Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) has announced the completion of fieldwork at the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) site, marking a major milestone for the project to build six 77 MWe NuScale Power Modules at the Idaho National Laboratory site. The NuScale Power Module is the first SMR concept to receive U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) design approval.

BWX Technologies has been granted a $4.6 million contract amendment to manufacture TRISO nuclear fuel to power next-generation micro-reactors. This is coupled with the major developments occurring at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as they begin 3D printing microreactors for TRISO nuclear fuel. The result will hopefully allow for safer, faster, and more economical manufacturing of nuclear energy.

The U.S. government is looking to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help protect NPPs from cyber attacks. In a sources-sought notice issued by the NRC, AI and machine learning could be used to better identify, characterize, and respond to cyber threats to the increasingly complex nuclear systems. NRC officials are looking for companies to assist in completing the necessary research. 

The Nuclear Energy Agency has published its latest brochure on SMRs, presenting an informative overview of how novel SMRs designs are reinventing the nuclear energy sector and providing different value propositions for contributing to the global decarbonization effort.

In the Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy, Stimson Center experts Debra Decker and Kathryn Rauhut have published an article on “Incentivizing Good Governance Beyond Regulatory Minimums: The Civil Nuclear Sector.” The article documents key findings from a multi-year project researching incentives for nuclear security and presents a “Good Governance Template” geared towards supporting owners/managers in “obtaining benefits and reducing potential liabilities.”

‘The Nuclear Industry Argues Regulators Don’t Understand New Small Reactors’

‘Where the Russians are coming, so is Westinghouse with its nuclear ambitions’

‘The opportunity cost of not using nuclear energy for climate mitigation’

‘U.S.-Japan fast reactor cooperation raises nuclear security issues’

‘Could small nuclear reactors help protect the climate?’

‘Nuclear Power Is More Important Than Ever’

‘Don’t Blame Putin for Europe’s Energy Crisis’

‘Grossi aims to strengthen non-proliferation regime’

‘Why nuclear power is safer than ever’

‘Europe Is Losing Nuclear Power Just When It Really Needs Energy’

‘Four reasons nuclear can help renewables realize their full potential’

‘NRC’s Rejection Of Oklo Application Shows US Is Miles Behind China In Advanced Nuclear Reactors’

‘Green Upheaval: The New Geopolitics of Energy’

‘Energy crisis: How countries are dealing with rising prices’

‘Wyoming's power play: Nuclear project could be the catalyst for economic diversification’

‘Advanced reactors: Now comes the hard part’

‘Nuclear power could be key to climate change challenge’

‘Viewpoint: Europe's clean energy dreams should include nuclear’

‘Former Nuclear Leaders: Say ‘No’ to New Reactors’