Greetings!

In this week’s issue, we provide a review of the progress made on nuclear energy a year after President Donald Trump’s executive orders. We spotlight a report from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies that assesses Rosatom’s domestic expansion and its rising involvement in the international nuclear energy sector. Finally, we highlight key nuclear technology, security, and geopolitical developments, reports, and analyses.

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, Gabriela Zanko, and Cate Donovan.

A year has passed since President Trump issued four executive orders to advance and expand American nuclear energy. Together the orders created a mandate for accelerated action to recenter the U.S. on the nuclear power spectrum after decades of decline. The executive orders certainly boosted the level of governmental activity, with the Department of Energy providing a tsunami of press releases on progress toward the president’s goals. But the Trump administration has a penchant for valuing optics and quick victories over strategy for the long term. A review of the progress to date provides examples of some impressive advances and some unfulfilled promises.

Licensing Reform: A core principle for the Trump administration is to reduce regulation. And the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was an early target of the red tape reduction efforts. While there were, and remain, concerns about the how the NRC’s independence would survive this initial onslaught, the fear of a compromised agency has not yet been realized. The agency also has taken significant and useful steps to adapt to the needs of small reactor licensing, adopt risk-informed licensing, and balance safety with efficiency of decision making. The new chair of the agency, Ho Nieh, has asserted that the NRC’s ability to make independent decisions is “non-negotiable”.

Nuclear Fuel: One of the most active areas of Trump’s nuclear policy has been creating the ecosystem for domestic nuclear fuel production. America has been highly dependent on Russian nuclear fuels for decades. But the war in Ukraine has led the U.S., along with many other nations, to seek a more reliable supply of fuel. The U.S. government has poured billions of dollars into the production of low-enriched uranium production and HALEU fuel that is needed by many new, smaller reactors. It also supports the production of TRISO fuels that embed uranium in a ceramic matrix. Further, the administration has resurrected plutonium as a fuel for reactors. Whether any or all of these activities can produce the necessary volume of fuel in the time scale required remains to be seen. The shortage of HALEU in particular is a significant problem for the development and testing of a wide range of small modular reactor designs.

Small Modular Reactors: SMRs have been touted as a path to cheaper and more expansive nuclear energy. These reactors are considerably smaller than traditional light-water reactors (up to 350 megawatts vs 1 gigawatt) and many of the designs use fuels and coolants that are more exotic than the existing fleet of reactors. There are a number of programs the government is supporting to drive small reactors from concept to deployment but there are significant challenges. One of the administration’s gambit’s is to have three SMRs achieve “criticality before America’s 250^th anniversary.” Under the Reactor Pilot Project this race to create fission for July 4^th will undoubtably reach the goal. But to what strategic end? Most will produce cold fission, which is a state that does not reach operating temperature or produce power, and therefore does not test the integrity of the reactor design. These pilot project reactors currently are designed to provide a power output of zero to 10MW, which is a long way from the 1.6 terawatts (TW) of electricity growth projected for the U.S. by 2050. After this anniversary celebration another decade will be required to bring any of these SMRs to the point of commercialization.

New Reactor Construction: Trump’s critical goal of having “10 new large reactors with complete designs under construction by 2030” has not appreciably advanced. Last year, the administration ponied up $800 million for the construction of ten Westinghouse AP-1000s in the U.S. But since then, little progress has been made. There is no site selection, no utility partner, and no construction or plan. The AP-1000 is the only American reactor that is licensed, has been constructed in the U.S. and abroad, and is ready for deployment now. Westinghouse has applied to update and renew its design certification to streamline deployment. It also has produced an analysis that states a 10-unit AP-1000 package can create over $92 billion in new gross domestic product. While no new large reactors are headed to construction, the Department of Energy (DoE) projects that the restart of shuttered reactors and the power uprating of operating units will add additional 5 Gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power by 2029.

Nuclear Exports: In general, the U.S. is playing catch up with its nuclear export rivals after decades of stagnation, but it is making headway. China now has 32 reactors under construction and Russia is building 27, including 20 outside the country. A resurgence of U.S. reactor exports includes the selection of the Westinghouse AP-1000 by Poland, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Saudi Arabia and the U.S. seem to have an agreement on nuclear cooperation that would include the AP-1000. U.S. advanced reactors, including NuScale’s SMR and the GE Vernona Hitachi BWRX-300 have also been embraced by foreign nations including Romania, Poland, Canada, and Japan. And Holtec’s SMR-300 has cleared a critical regulatory review in the U.K. The Trump EOs also call for 20 new bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements to expand the potential market for American nuclear exports. A few have been inked, but the administration lacks an effective strategy for capturing commitments from developing economy countries that are likely candidates for future small-scale nuclear power plants.

Military Microreactors and National Security: A significant advance of the Trump executive orders was declaring U.S. nuclear energy as a national security issue. This has multiple benefits but one is the embrace of the Pentagon of the value of nuclear energy for its missions beyond naval power. The U.S. Army has the lead responsibility for the development of a new class of terrestrial reactors. There are several different initiatives, including Project Pele and the Janus Program, and the reactors being pursued have different missions. Some are required to be transportable by a C-17 and others focused on providing secure power for military installations. The programs also are designed to provide a commercial benefit, as has been the case with other defense technology developments. The Army’s director of reactor development, Jeff Waksman, stated the “U.S. Army is stepping in to absorb that first-of-a--kind risk, so the commercial market can follow, and the national can benefit from broader adoption.”

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security

Spotlight

The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies published a report analyzing Rosatom’s expansion as Russia’s nuclear agency and its rising influence in the global nuclear energy sector. The report begins by considering Rosatom’s domestic business and expansion plans before moving to consider its overseas projects that are in operation, under construction, or proposed. After reviewing the company’s business lines and financial situation, the Oxford Institute concludes that Rosatom has become more prominent as it expanded its business domestically and overseas and is becoming an increasingly vital element in Russia’s geopolitical strategy and influence. Rosatom is particularly appealing to numerous countries in the developing world that are looking to nuclear power as a positive source of zero carbon energy, with projects under construction in nations such as Egypt, Bangladesh, and Turkey. On the other hand, the financial viability of Rosatom’s operations and planned projects has also come into question as it faces increasing scrutiny from the West and competition in overseas markets.

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Issues of Special Interest

Global AI and Data Center Energy

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published an article analyzing the approaches that hyperscalers are using to secure nuclear energy. To date, their efforts reflect their preference to be energy offtakers over direct nuclear ownership or project development, with the article assessing why these approaches have remained cautious considering priorities, times, and costs. Additionally, the Carnegie Endowment considers key entanglement risks that big tech will need to confront including potential reputational exposure, nonproliferation concerns, and management of long-term nuclear waste.

The IAEA has launched a new Coordinated Research Project (CRP) that will support the development and use of advanced nuclear fuels in both current and future nuclear power reactors. The new project will address issues related to fuel utilization in small modular reactors (SMR), accident-related conditions, and the operation of high-burnup fuels through coordinated experimental work and improved modelling. The project will also include a subtask on using AI to support nuclear fuel performance simulations and data processing.

The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine on International Nuclear Affairs

The IAEA reported that damage at the exterior of a turbine building at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is consistent with the impact of a drone. The IAEA stated that attacks on nuclear sites are unacceptable and must stop in order to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine. While the IAEA did not attribute blame for the attack, Russia accused Ukraine of being behind the drone attack. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been under Russian control since 2022, and the IAEA has been stationed at the occupied plant for the past few years.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant experienced a 12-hour loss of landline and internet communications, the longest such outage since the conflict began, raising concerns about the plant’s ability to maintain reliable contact with regulators and support organizations. The disruption occurred amid increased military activity near Enerhodar and added to ongoing challenges facing the facility, which remains dependent on a single external power line after its main connection was lost in March. Elsewhere, attacks affecting electrical infrastructure forced operational changes at the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant, underscoring the fragility of Ukraine’s power network and its importance to nuclear safety.

The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has handed the official license to Energoatom for the operation of the Centralized Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility. The facility is a dry storage site for used nuclear fuel assemblies from the country’s VVER-1000 and VVER-440 reactors and is designed to have a total storage capacity of 16,530 used fuel assemblies. Energoatom says the new facility will save $200 million a year which it previously had to pay for the used fuel to be transported and stored in Russia.

Russia

Russia and Kazakhstan have signed an intergovernmental agreement establishing the framework for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant project. The deal includes provisions for Russian export loan financing and the construction of two Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors at the planned Balkhash nuclear power plant. The agreement also covers long-term cooperation in areas such as fuel supply, maintenance, and nuclear safety regulation. The project forms part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to diversify its energy mix and develop a domestic nuclear power industry.

The first RITM-200C reactor unit has been manufactured for Russia’s planned floating nuclear power plant project. The reactor is a civilian adaptation of technology already used on Russian nuclear icebreakers and is intended to provide electricity and heat to remote regions. The completed reactor unit will be installed on a floating power facility being developed to support industrial and infrastructure projects in the Arctic and Far East. The milestone marks progress in Russia’s efforts to expand the use of small modular reactor technology for energy supply in isolated areas where conventional power generation can be difficult and costly.

The first VVER-TOI reactor at Russia’s Kursk II Nuclear Power Plant has generated more than 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity since it was connected to the grid in December 2025. The 1,250 MW unit entered commercial operation on May 1 and is the first operational example of Russia’s latest VVER-TOI reactor design. The project involved more than 90,000 workers and approximately 250 contractors, while the reactor underwent over 1,500 tests before receiving regulatory approval. Construction is continuing on additional VVER-TOI units at the site, which is planned to eventually host four reactors with a combined capacity of 5,000 MW.

China

Hot functional tests have been completed at unit 3 of the Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant ahead of the reactor’s start up, and the reactor pressure vessel has been hoisted into place at unit 2. The Xudabao project was originally expected to comprise six CAP1000 reactors, but the plans were changed in favor of units 3 and 4 being Russian-supplied VVER-1200 reactors. Two further CAP1000 reactors are proposed for units 5 and 6 at the Xudabao plant.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) installed the outer dome of the double-layered containment building of unit 1 at the Lianjiang Nuclear Power Plant. China's State Council approved the construction of the first of two 1,250 MWe CAP1000 reactors at the Lianjiang site in September 2022. A total of six CAP1000s are planned for the site. Construction began on unit 1 starting in September 2023, and on unit 2 in April 2024. Unit 1 is expected to be completed and put into operation in 2028.

Europe

Italy’s Chamber of Deputies has approved the Italian government’s bill that will pave the way for the country to resume the use of nuclear energy. The bill now goes to the Senate, where the government expects the legislation to get final approval before the summer recess at the end of July. Italy formerly operated four nuclear power plants beginning in the 1960s but decided to phase out nuclear power following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. However, Italy’s government is currently advocating for nuclear power to be adopted as part of the country’s energy strategy.

France, Italy, and eight other European Union countries are pushing the European Commission to recognize nuclear power as a clean source of energy for data centers. The countries argue that proposed changes under the Energy Efficiency Directive do not comply with the principle of technological neutrality because they favor renewable energy over nuclear power. This complaint comes before the Commission is expected to adopt a new sustainability label for data centers as part of its “tech sovereignty package” and introduce a rating scheme bringing more visibility on how data centers use electricity.

Rolls-Royce SMR has selected Škoda JS and Doosan-Enerbility for pre-production work for key components of its small modular reactor (SMR) program. The companies’ work will encompass early supplier engagement, design finalization, and manufacturing readiness to support the delivery of first power at the first possible date. The first two projects to feature Rolls-Royce SMRs are set to be at the Wylfa site in Wales and at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant in the Czech Republic.

Great Britain has installed the reactor pressure vessel for the second of two reactors at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset, England. Électricité de France (EDF) fabricated the vessel at its Saint-Marcel plant in France after Framatome announced the completion of the component in November of last year and delivered it to the Hinkley Point C site in January. Construction of Hinkley Point C unit 2 began in 2019 and has dealt with numerous delays, with construction now expected to be completed by 2039.

Électricité de France (EDF) and Sizewell C Limited have appointed French engineering group Assystem and Canadian engineering firm AtkinsRéalis to a five-year Professional Services Framework. Assystem has been selected as a strategic engineering partner and will have a leading role across various contracts on the Sizewell C and Hinkley Point C nuclear sites. AtkinsRéalis will support EDF Nuclear Services and the Sizewell C and Hinkley Point C projects across more than 60 different technical and project delivery disciplines.

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and U.S. private fusion energy company TAE Technologies announced the formation and funding of the TAE Beam UK joint venture. The venture will be focused on commercializing particle accelerator technology for fusion and non-fusion applications. TAE Beam UK was announced in December 2025 as part of a bilateral investment commitment to commercialize TAE’s proprietary particle accelerator technology for the global market.

U.S. reactor developer X-energy applied to enter the United Kingdom’s Generic Design Assessment process for its Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. The submission marks a key regulatory milestone in the company’s partnership with Centrica, which aims to deploy up to 6 GW of advanced nuclear capacity in the United Kingdom. The assessment is expected to run through 2029 and could support construction of a fleet of Xe-100 reactors, with the Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station site identified as the preferred location for the first project.

Newcleo announced the main vessel for its PRECURSOR non-nuclear demonstrator has been installed at the ENEA Brasimone Research Center near Bologna, Italy. To support Newcleo’s advanced reactor research and development program, SRS Servizi is working on the installation of PRECURSOR and has completed the installation of the OTHELLO loop-type lead test facility. Newcleo is progressing with the construction of its demonstration LFR-AS-30 reactor, and the company is aiming for commissioning by 2031.

Swedish nuclear technical services provider Studsvik has submitted an application to the Swedish government for the construction of a small modular reactor (SMR) power plant at its existing site in Nyköping. The application concerns the construction of two to four light water-cooled nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of between 600 and 1,400 megawatts electrical (MWe). Subject to permits, the company is aiming for commercial operation of the first reactors in the 2030s.

Rosatom has shipped the final four steam generators for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, completing the delivery of the key reactor hall equipment. The steam generators were manufactured at the Atommash plant in Volgodonsk, Russia. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is Turkey’s first nuclear power facility and will consist of four VVER-1200 units built by Rosatom. Turkey also has plans to build a second power plant in the Sinop province and a third plant in Thrace at a later date.

A new molten salt reactor (MSR) testing facility has been launched in the Netherlands to support the development of advanced reactor technology. The facility will be used to test non-nuclear systems, materials, and components needed for future molten salt reactors, helping developers validate designs before commercial deployment. The project is part of broader efforts led by Dutch reactor developer Thorizon to advance its MSR program and establish the Netherlands as a center for next-generation nuclear innovation.

Experts from the American company Sargent & Lundy visited Armenia as part of a U.S. mission to propose American small modular reactors (SMR) under the State Department’s FIRST program. The U.S. Embassy in Armenia had previously completed a feasibility study to assess the possibility of replacing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant’s sole unit with new American SMR technologies from companies such as NuScale, GE Hitachi, and X-energy. The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is Armenia’s only nuclear facility and has one operational Russian-built VVER-440 unit.

The Deon Policy Institute released a report which identifies no fundamental barriers to the implementation of floating nuclear power plants in Greece, although policy, regulatory, financial, and social acceptance issues still need to be overcome. The study derives its policy insights from a research program conducted by CORE POWER, Athlos Energy, and the American Bureau of Shipping. Greece has historically never deployed nuclear power, but Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced last year that the country would examine the potential role of small modular reactors (SMR) in its energy mix.

Asia & The Pacific

India’s Maharashtra government has signed memoranda of understanding for four projects aimed at generating 25,400 megawatts electrical (MWe) or nuclear power. The MoUs were signed with Adani Power, Reliance Industries Limited, NTPC Limited, and the Lalitpur Power Generation Company. This follows the Indian government’s adoption of the SHANTI Bill which ended the state monopoly of nuclear power generation and opened India’s nuclear power sector to private companies.

Kazakhstan’s government has approved a resolution aimed at developing a domestic industrial base for the implementation of nuclear power plant construction projects. The Comprehensive Plan for Developing Localization in the Nuclear Industry for 2026-2030 provides for the phased preparation of Kazakhstan’s energy companies and enterprises for participation in nuclear projects, covering areas such as developing a regulatory framework and modernizing and establishing production facilities. Kazakhstan is in the process of developing its first nuclear power project in collaboration with Rosatom.

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power began construction on Shin Hanul unit 4. Units 3 and 4 are both APR1400 reactors, along with operational Shin Hanul units 1 and 2. KHNP applied for a construction license for units 3 and 4 in January 2016. The project was delayed under former President Moon Jae-in's policy of phasing out nuclear power but revived in May 2022 under President Yoon Seok-yeol. KHNP entered into a 10-year contract with Doosan Enerbility to provide main equipment, including nuclear reactors, steam generators and turbine generators.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) began removing fuel assemblies from the used fuel storage pool of unit 2 at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. The fuel pool currently contains 615 assemblies. Tepco utilized a remote-controlled, submersible vehicle to assess the pool and chart its removal plan. Tepco completed the construction of a fuel removal work platform at unit 2 in 2024, and it has already completed the transfer of fuel assemblies from Fukushima Daiichi units 1, 3, and 6.

The United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation and Singapore’s National Environment Agency have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the regulation of civil nuclear energy. The MoU establishes a framework for exchanging safety-related regulatory information across the full nuclear lifecycle and also covers the regulation of transporting radioactive material and regulatory considerations around new reactor technologies. In 2025, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that the government would study the potential deployment of nuclear power in the country.

Africa

There are no new updates for this region.

The Middle East

A reactor pressure vessel, four steam generators, and a pressurizer were shipped together from Russia to Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in what Rosatom described as the largest single equipment shipment ever made for one nuclear power project. Egyptian officials said the project remains on schedule and continues to play a central role in the country’s long-term energy strategy. The El Dabaa facility will be Egypt’s first nuclear power plant and will consist of four VVER-1200 reactors being built with Russian support.

Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Department of Government Enablement (DGE) - Abu Dhabi to establish a program for the training and employment of Emirati nationals in the civil nuclear energy sector. Under the five-year agreement, the two parties will cooperate to qualify at least 100 Emirati nationals holding high school diplomas, vocational diplomas, or postgraduate degrees. Upon completion of the training program, successful trainees will be integrated into the ENEC workforce. ENEC owns and operates the Barakah nuclear power plant, consisting of four APR1400s built by Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO).

South & Central America

Argentina issued Guidelines for the Argentine Nuclear Policy 2026 on the 76th anniversary of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA). The guidelines prioritize high value-added exports, energy security, preservation and development of national technological capacity, and regional leadership with geopolitical positioning. The strategy also seeks to promote private investment in national nuclear projects, bolstered by the CNEA’s research and development role.

Argentina's Nuclear Regulatory Authority renewed the operating license for Atucha II Nuclear Power Plant until May 2036. Atucha II is a 693 MWe pressurized heavy water reactor. Although originally ordered, a lack of funding impeded construction. The unit connected to the grid in February 2015. The reactor underwent repairs between 2022-2023.

North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy

United States

Duke Energy is talking with hyperscaler companies about the prospect of building new nuclear power under the condition that the technology companies take on some of the financial risk of building nuclear reactors. The power company has discussed adding more nuclear energy to its fleet in order to serve the growing demand, including from companies building energy-intensive data centers. Duke Energy’s fleet already includes the largest number of nuclear power plants of any regulated utility in the country.

The Department of Energy has selected nuclear technology company Oklo for advanced negotiations under the Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program which aims to turn designated surplus plutonium material into fuel for advanced reactors. In partnership with Newcleo, Oklo will lead the utilization of surplus plutonium while Newcleo will bring relevant fuel experience and potential project capital. The Department of Energy announced plans last October for private companies to dispose of about 20 tons of surplus plutonium by making the materials for advancing nuclear technologies.

Under an amendment to the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement, the United States will now send three used Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia rather than sending two used submarines and one new one. The countries announced the change in the agreement as a means to streamline the deal and deliver U.S. nuclear-powered submarines from the U.S. Navy stock. The AUKUS submarine program is part of Australia’s defense strategy as well as part of Australia, the United States, and United Kingdom’s efforts to bolster their security in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a waiver for Constellation Energy which will allow Constellation to transfer 760 megawatts of Capacity Interconnection Rights from its Eddystone power plant to the Crane nuclear facility. Constellation plans to restart the former Three Mile Island Unit 1, rebranded as the Crane Nuclear Power Plant, in order to supply electricity for Microsoft’s data centers across the PJM power grid. Its plan to restart the unit hit an obstacle when PJM determined that transmission upgrades were needed to safely deliver all the unit’s power to the grid.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee reviewed three nuclear energy bills at a hearing before the Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety. The bills that were reviewed by the Subcommittee were the Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act, the RECHARGE Act, and the Enrichment Licensing Modernization Act. These bills come as the Trump administration is seeking to expand the U.S. nuclear energy sector and streamline the licensing and deployment of new nuclear reactors.

Urenco announced a multi-billion-dollar investment to provide a near-50% increase in enrichment capacity at Urenco USA’s National Enrichment Facility in New Mexico. The new plant will increase the facility’s capacity by 2.1 million separative work units (SWU), with construction beginning in 2029 and first production of low-enriched uranium in 2032. Urenco USA’s New Mexico facility is the only commercial uranium enrichment capacity in the United States, and the U.S. government is currently looking to strengthen the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.

Newcleo announced it will go public in the United States through a blank-check deal that values the nuclear power startup at about $2.4 billion on a pre-money basis. Newcleo’s deal with special purpose acquisition company NewHold Investment Corp is expected to generate up to $429 million in gross proceeds, after which Newcleo will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “NWCL”. The deal comes as technology companies race to secure power for AI and boost interest in nuclear energy as a future source of power.

Antares has signed a long-term enrichment services agreement with Urenco to supply high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for its factory-produced microreactors. Under the agreement, Urenco will provide enrichment services for HALEU to support Antares’ planned microreactor deployments in North America and allied markets, with the fuel produced at Urenco’s HALEU enrichment facility in the United Kingdom. Antares is on track to conduct a reactor demonstration in 2026, to test its first electricity-producing reactor in 2027, and production deployments beginning in 2028.

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) announced the release of the ABS Nuclear-Ready Notation for marine and offshore assets designed to support future conversion to nuclear energy. The society said the notation is meant to assist vessel owners, designers, and builders in preparing vessels for future conversion to the use of a nuclear system. The guide may be applied to both new construction and existing vessel conversions, utilizing any form of energy production for vessel operations.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) intends to complete its technical review of Orano Enrichment USA’s application for a license to build and operate the Project IKE uranium enrichment facility within 12 months. The NRC’s formal acceptance of the technical licensing document and Environment Report means that the application moves into full technical review for granting a license. The NRC has set an expedited review schedule for the project which is part of the U.S. government’s broader push to accelerate and modernize its licensing process.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced solicitations for work force training and for a developer to start construction of at least one new reactor by 2032. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will spend up to $40 million to develop training programs for a wide variety of nuclear jobs. The NYPA also issued a request for firms who are interested in building 1 gigawatt of new nuclear power, with firms required to begin construction on their nuclear reactors no later than 2032.

A New Jersey legislative panel approved legislation that would direct the state’s energy regulators to begin soliciting bids for new nuclear power plants in the states. The bill would create a subsidiary to aid the construction of at least 1,100 megawatts of nuclear electricity generation, with the state Board of Public Utilities directing the state’s electrical utility companies to purchase a certain number of certificates each year. New Jersey currently operates three nuclear reactors located at two separate sites.

Microreactor developer Deployable Energy has received the Department of Energy’s approval of the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA) for its Unity microreactor after being selected for support under the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad. The purpose of the PDSA is to provide a comprehensive and preliminary assessment of the safety aspects of a nuclear facility. This approval means Deployable is now positioned to complete final preparations for its upcoming demonstration of the Unity microreactor.

Canada

Bruce unit 3 has been reconnected to the grid after the Canadian regulator removed the final regulatory hold point for the unit, which has been undergoing refurbishment. The Major Component Replacement (MCR) involves removing and replacing key reactor components while adding 35 years to the reactor’s operating life. Bruce 3 was taken offline to begin its MCR outage in 2023, with Bruce Power announcing the completion of the construction phase of the project in February of this year.

Cameco and Orano bought the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) 5% stake in the Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan. Cameco now holds 47.4% of the venture while Orand holds 42.6%. Cigar Lake has estimated proven and probable reserves of 172.4 million pounds of U3O8. The mine is home to high grade uranium, but physical conditions make mining challenging. Cameco developed an innovative jet-boring technique specifically for the project to access uranium in frozen ore.

Mexico

There are no new updates for this region.

New Research

Rethinking the Economic and Flexibility of U.S. Nuclear Power Through Hydrogen Integration and Policy Support

Nature, June 2

World Energy Investment 2026

International Energy Agency, May 28

Op-Eds & Articles

Hungary Shows Limits to Central-Southeast Europe’s ‘Nuclear Renaissance’

Balkan Insight, June 2

A Safer Nuclear Fuel Is Gaining Steam – But Cost Remains a Hurdle

Canary Media, June 2

What Does It Take to Restore a Nuclear Power Plant?

Utility Dive, June 2

We Were Going to Bury 20 Tons of Nuclear Fuel. Finally, We Have a Way to Use It Instead.

The Hill, June 1

AI Is Turning Energy into the Hottest Business in America

Axios, May 31

A Year of Deregulation Ignited an American Nuclear Renaissance

The National Review, May 31

Deploying Nuclear Power: Financing, Risk, and Execution in the Current Market Environment

American Nuclear Society, May 29

Spent Nuclear Fuel Could Be America’s Answer to Russia’s Uranium Grip

Oil Price, May 29

Trump Cut Nuclear Read Tape. Now His Administration Is Picking Winners.

Reason, May 29

The Nuclear Industry Got a New Life. So Has Its Drive to Recycle Radioactive Waste.

The Wall Street Journal, May 29

New Nuclear Power May Be Coming to Nebraska. Is Shows Promise – And Has Problems.

Flatwater Free Press, May 29

Hyperscalers Didn’t Set Out to Be Power Companies. The Grid Left Them No Choice.

Utility Dive, May 28

Three Reforms to Improve Nuclear Energy’s Economic Outlook

The National Interest, May 27

Pentagon Spurs US Microreactor Race but Commercial Hurdles Remain

Reuters, May 27

How One Company Plans to Put a Nuclear Microreactor at Buckley

Axios, May 26

A Look Back on Trump’s Efforts to Boost Nuclear Energy One Year Later

The Washington Examiner, May 23

Fusion Energy Poised for Simpler U.S. Review

Axios, May 22

America Doubles Down on a New Nuclear Energy Future

The National Interest, May 22

Maintaining the Credibility and Independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The National Interest, May 21

Progress Report: Reclaiming American Nuclear Leadership

The National Interest, May 21

AI Data Center Push Is Fueling New Nuclear Threat

Salon, May 21

News items and summaries compiled by:

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Gabriela Zanko, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security

Cate Donovan, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security