Cillian Murphy, the actor that portrayed Robert Oppenheimer in the Academy Award winning movie named for the scientist, dedicated his Best Actor award to “the peacemakers everywhere” seeking to prevent the use of atomic weapons.

An excellent new article by Theo Kalionzes, the former Senior Program Officer for nuclear policy grantmaking at the MacArthur Foundation, outlines how and why the foundation came to provide support for what was an outlier issue on the nuclear agenda and is now central to its future.

This prescience led to cross-disciplinary collaboration breakthroughs like the Global Nexus Initiative that explored the intersection of nuclear power, climate change, and global and energy security policy. This nexus has now become the policy foundation for the expansion of nuclear energy.

What Kalionzes’ article makes clear is that there is now a significant opportunity for American philanthropy, in concert with governments and the nuclear industry, to revamp the future of the NGO nuclear policy community to increase its value in addressing the evolving challenges of the 21^st Century.

The Department of Energy released its Fiscal Year 2025 budget request, which includes $1.6 billion for the Office of Nuclear Energy. The request includes $694.2 million in research and development activities meant to help advance reactor and fuel technologies, address gaps in the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain, and utilize the latest artificial intelligence and machine learning goals. The DoE broke down five areas where the requested budget would be spent: high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), developing new reactor technologies, boosting university research and development, and additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ongoing efforts to prevent nuclear accidents amidst the conflict, describing the talks as "professional and frank." Concerns were raised about the safety situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine, controlled by Russia for two years, with ongoing explosions nearby and the plant remaining without backup external power for over two weeks. The IAEA continues to monitor staffing issues, emergency preparedness, and maintenance activities at ZNPP, while maintaining nuclear safety and security at other nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

The IAEA adopted a resolution expressing concern over the nuclear safety and security situation at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The resolution highlights gaps in staffing, routine maintenance, supply chains, and power supply vulnerability, emphasizing the need for the immediate withdrawal of unauthorized military personnel and the return of the plant to Ukrainian control to ensure safe operation and effective safeguards implementation. The resolution also supports the ongoing efforts of the IAEA Director General and Secretariat in addressing the nuclear safety implications in Ukraine and emphasizes the importance of providing timely access to critical areas for nuclear safety and security verification.

The IAEA cautioned Russia against restarting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been shut down since 2022 due to frequent shelling attacks. Responding to Russia's suggestion to restart the plant, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi highlighted concerns over the plant's safety in an active combat zone and the need for thorough safety assessments before any decision is made, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the plant's physical integrity and uninterrupted power supply amidst ongoing conflict.

Bulgaria seeks assistance from the U.S. to reduce its reliance on Russian nuclear fuel. Waiting on shipments of American-developed fuel rods from Sweden, Bulgaria aims to become one of the first former Warsaw Pact countries to break away from Russian nuclear fuel dependency. While Bulgaria's move represents a broader trend towards diversification away from Russian nuclear fuel imports in the region, Hungary remains an outlier, deepening its dependency on Moscow despite escalating concerns over Russia's role in the nuclear power industry and the conflict in Ukraine.

Polish President Andrzej Duda announced discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden regarding cooperation on nuclear energy, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and transition away from coal. Poland's previous government selected Westinghouse Electric Co. for technology supply, and current leadership under Prime Minister Donald Tusk plans to audit the project while expressing the need for nuclear power. Duda mentioned plans to visit an American nuclear power plant as Poland considers building a similar facility on its Baltic coast by 2033, although project delays prompt a reassessment of its timeline.

China is set to host the fifth International Conference on Enhancing the Operational Safety of Nuclear Power Plants, the first time the event has been held outside the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna. Hosted by the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA), the conference will highlight enhancements in operational safety management at all stages of nuclear power plant operations. However, the release of wastewater from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant will not be on the agenda despite China’s consistent protests to the discharge.

Romania expects to make a preliminary final investment decision next year on whether to build a small modular reactor (SMR) plant. U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Ann Kavalec said the Romanian project has financial support from the U.S. Ex-Im Bank and the International Development Finance Corporation worth $4 billion. Romania has expressed a preference for the NuScale reactor as it aims to increase its nuclear power capacity in order to lower its carbon emissions and bolster its energy security.

Polish industrial group Industria signed a letter of intent with UK-based Chiltern Vital Group to deploy Rolls-Royce small modular reactors (SMRs) in Poland. Industria's selection of Rolls-Royce SMR technology aligns with their zero-emission energy goals, particularly within the Central Hydrogen Cluster, aiming to produce 50,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen annually. The agreement outlines cooperation in various areas, including skills development, accelerating licensing processes, and creating financing models for SMR projects.

Prodigy Clean Energy and Des Nëdhé Group signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities for powering remote mines and communities in Canada using Prodigy microreactor Transportable Nuclear Power Plants (TNPPs). They will engage with Indigenous communities across Canada to identify potential TNPP projects, with a focus on Indigenous ownership and workforce participation in TNPP development and deployment. This collaboration aims to advance economic reconciliation and expand Indigenous leadership in Canada's clean energy transition, addressing longstanding challenges related to limited access to clean and affordable energy in remote regions.

The European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) is set to sever cooperation with Russian scientists later this year, sparking condemnation from Russia's Foreign Ministry. Established in 1953, CERN has had a long history of collaboration with Russia, formalized through various agreements, including the 2019 International Cooperation Agreement, which is set to expire on November 30, 2024. This decision to terminate the cooperation agreement with Russia was made in December 2023 by CERN's Council, following a United Nations General Assembly Resolution in March 2022 regarding the conflict in Ukraine, affecting scientific exchanges and collaborations between CERN and Russian institutions.

The United States and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing their strategic partnership to ensure energy security and accelerate the global transition to climate neutrality. During the 11th US-EU Energy Council meeting, high-level representatives discussed coordinating strategic energy issues, chaired by officials from both sides. The council emphasized the importance of diverse and resilient energy systems, the need to transition away from fossil fuels, and condemned Russia's actions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

Stellarex Inc. and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) have signed a memorandum of understanding that provides a framework for collaboration and cooperation in the science and technology of fusion energy production. Under the terms of collaboration, Stellarex and CNL will partner in specific areas of fusion energy science and technology towards the design and realization of Stellarex’s planned fusion energy power plants.

The IAEA held its first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels consisting of 32 countries. The leaders and representatives of these nations backed measures in areas such as financing, technological innovation, regulatory cooperation, and workforce training to enable the expansion of nuclear capacity to tackle climate change and boost energy security. A number of industry representative groups issued a joint statement in which they welcomed the outcome of the summit and the commitment of national leaders towards developing and deploying nuclear energy. Nuclear policy and climate organizations also issued a declaration.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held the 36^th Annual Regulatory Information Conference (RIC). The NRC covered a broad scope of topics ranging from novel policy matters to detailed technical challenges facing the U.S. nuclear industry. The RIC is an annual event in which the NRC joins with colleagues and representatives from international bodies, government agencies, non-government organizations, and the industry to discuss the most pressing issues in the nuclear field.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and the U.K.’s Office of Nuclear Regulation signed a memorandum of cooperation to expand collaboration on technical reviews of advanced reactor and small modular reactor technologies. This trilateral agreement aims to enhance safety and security missions while efficiently considering next-generation technologies. By sharing best practices and regulatory experiences, the agencies intend to streamline regulation, develop shared approaches for reviewing common technical safety issues, and collaborate on pre-application activities, research, training, and emerging technical challenges in the nuclear industry.

Hitachi Ltd. has put a $28 billion British nuclear power project on hold after failing to find private investors for a proposed plant at Wylfa in Wales. Hitachi chief executive Toshiaki Higashihara added that Hitachi could seek to withdraw completely from the project and sell the Horizon Nuclear Power project depending on its ongoing discussions with the British government. The Japanese company has previously urged the British government to boost financial support for the planned power station.

The British arm of U.S. nuclear firm Holtec International will launch a competition to find a site for a £600 million ($767 million) factory in Great Britain to build small modular reactors (SMR). The funding will be used for the construction and design of a new factory and production site over the next 15 years. Last year, Britain’s government opened its own competition to help develop SMR technology with the aim of deploying projects in the 2030s, with companies such as Rolls Royce SMR, GE Hitachi, and NuScale among the six shortlisted companies.

HSBC Holdings is in talks to help finance the construction of the United Kingdom’s Sizewell C nuclear power station. The bank is in discussions with investment funds to provide the debt that would be guaranteed by the country’s export finance agency, which would help Sizewell offset the risks of financing the long-term project. Securing state-guaranteed funding would be an important milestone for the Sizewell C project which could cost more than £40 billion ($51 billion).

The United Kingdom is to become the first European country to launch a high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) program for next-generation nuclear reactors, allocating £300 million to develop HALEU. A HALEU production hub is currently planned to be built in northwest England, with the government providing an extra £10 million to develop the skills and sites to produce other advanced nuclear fuels. The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said that further details on the location for its HALEU production hub would be confirmed subject to a commercial process and funding awards.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as part of a visit to help the country develop a peaceful nuclear energy program. Grossi said that a team of Iraqi experts would visit the IAEA’s headquarters to hold meetings setting out a road map for Iraq’s peaceful nuclear program amid growing interest in nuclear energy in the Middle East. Iraq previously had three nuclear reactors in Tuwaitha, but one was destroyed by an Israeli air raid in 1981 and the other two by U.S. warplanes during the Gulf War. Shortly afterward, Grossi also met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and agreed on greater engagement in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and supporting Syria in terms of cancer care.

Japan’s government is ramping up an effort to secure local approval to resume operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, the biggest nuclear plant in the world. Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Ken Saito will request Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi to endorse the restart of the power station after the Nuclear Regulation Authority removed a de facto ban on operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa last year. Japan’s government is currently struggling to boost the deployment of nuclear reactors in the face of strict regulations and patchy local support.

Turkey’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Turkey hopes to launch the first unit at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant by the end of the year, with all four units scheduled to be completed by 2028. Bayraktar added that with the country’s goal of 20 GWe of installed nuclear capacity by 2050, Turkey is continuing to talk with Russia, China, and South Korea about a second planned nuclear power plant at Sinop. Turkey is also developing plans for small modular reactors, with the aim of adding 5 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2050.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) opened ten of its nuclear technology research facilities, including the HL-3 tokamak, to the global community, marking a significant move in bolstering China's influence in nuclear science and technology worldwide. Among these facilities are the BRIF, the Beishan Underground Research Laboratory, and the Minjiang Test Reactor, showcasing China's advancements and leadership in the nuclear industry. This initiative is expected to foster international cooperation in nuclear science and technology, particularly benefiting developing countries seeking access to advanced research facilities and expertise.

German Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger announced a new funding program for nuclear fusion research aimed at paving the way for the first fusion power plant to be constructed in Germany by 2040. The aim of the project funding is to advance the technologies, components, and materials needed for a fusion power plant in a first phase by the early 2030s. Despite deciding to phase out nuclear power in 2011, Germany plans to increase research funding for fusion with an additional €370 million ($403 million) over the next five years.

Kazatomprom released its yearly financial results statement, announcing that Kazatomprom is fully capable of maintaining its position as a reliable supplier of natural uranium with an action that enables it to react to evolving geopolitical events. The group’s consolidated 2023 revenue was $3.19 billion, up 43% from its 2022 figure, with operating profit showing a 49% year-on-year increase. According to the statement, the events in Ukraine have not affected Kazatomprom’s financial position, but the organization is continuing to monitor the potential impact of sanctions against Russia on its ability to transport material through Saint Petersburg.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced that the $2.42 billion refinancing of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant has now been recognized as a Green Loan Facility. An independent Second Party Opinion provider confirmed Barakah’s refinancing is aligned with Green Loan principles by assessing three core elements, underscoring nuclear energy’s contribution to powering the United Arab Emirates’ energy transition strategy. Once in full operation, the Barakah plant will generate 40 TWh of electricity per year while preventing the release of 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions.

The IAEA completed its Safety Aspects of Long-Term Operations (SALTO) mission to the Atucha Nuclear Power Plant in Argentina, praising measures already taken and the professionalism and receptiveness exhibited by the plant staff towards suggestions for improvement. The IAEA team gave examples of good practice while recommending a systematic safety assessment to identify reasonable safety improvements, complete and implement the qualification program for electrical components, and improve the implementation of aging management of civil structures. Shortly after this mission, Argentina’s nuclear regulator issued a renewed license for the operation of Atucha 2 until 2026.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev announced that work on the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant is progressing well, with production of the melt trap completed and work on the reactor vessel set to start. In the update, Szijjarto added that Hungary will keep to the plan to connect the two new blocks to the grid by the beginning of the next decade. The Paks II Nuclear Power Plant was launched in 2014 by an intergovernmental agreement between Hungary and Russia for two Russian VVER-1200 reactors to be supplied by Rosatom.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told government officials that space projects, including setting up a nuclear power unit in space, should be a priority and get proper funding. Previously, the head of Russian space agency Roscomos announced that Russia and China are working on a project to install a nuclear reactor on the moon. This news also follows sources alleging that Russia is trying to develop a nuclear space weapon that could potentially cripple a vast swatch of commercial and government satellites.

Early-phase site works at Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Darlington project have been completed on time and on budget, clearing the way for the main site preparation work to begin. The site has now transitioned into the care of construction partner Aecon to allow for the main preparation work to begin, following which the project will be ready for nuclear construction work to begin in early 2025. OPG submitted an application for a license to build the first BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington site in October 2022, with plans to begin the licensing process for three additional units at the site in 2023.

Italy’s Enel and Ansaldo Nucleare have agreed to jointly examine and evaluate new technologies and business models for the generation of nuclear energy and their industrial applicability. In addition to assessing the degree of maturity of new small modular and advanced reactors, the agreement foresees the two companies building a common path in which the analysis, monitoring, and possible valuation of joint initiatives contribute to verifying the effective applicability of the two technologies. Italy’s government has moved towards adopting nuclear power, with the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear Power expected to develop guidelines for the country’s nuclear industry by mid-2024.

A House Foreign Affairs panel will discuss the influence of Russian uranium on the domestic nuclear sector this week, hoping to build momentum for a ban on Russian uranium and nuclear fuel. Most lawmakers and witnesses appearing before the Subcommittee on Europe hearing agree that Rosatom has a malign influence on America and its geopolitical allies, with committee chair Michael McCaul stating that, “The longer we wait to act, the more difficult it will be to address Rosatom’s nefarious and malign dealings.” American reactors are still using Russian uranium for about 20% of their fuel needs, and the United States currently lacks any commercial homegrown supply of the special type of uranium needed for advanced reactors.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing a budget of $151 million in net appropriations to Congress for fiscal year 2025, as well as $995 million in gross budget authority. Details of the budget include $503.5 million for nuclear reactor safety, $144.9 million for nuclear materials and waste safety, $19.2 million for the continued development of a regulatory infrastructure and staff capabilities for licensing of advanced reactor technologies, and $18.8 million for international activities.

Leaders in the emerging Western nuclear fusion industry are convening in Washington, D.C., seeking ways to attract more funding for research in the race against China to develop and build fusion reactors. The Fusion Industry Association (FIA) is hosting the event which is expected to attract about 350 attendees from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. The Biden administration signed a bill this month containing $790 million for fusion science programs in 2024, but this is below the more than $1 billion total that backers say is needed.

The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) announced that three companies will be provided vouchers to accelerate the innovation and application of their advanced technologies. The companies awarded vouchers are Element Factory LLC, Kanata America, and Oklo Inc. This is the second round of GAIN vouchers awarded for the fiscal year of 2024, which provide companies access to the extensive nuclear research capabilities and expertise available across the Department of Energy’s national laboratory complex.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) stated that it expects nuclear company TerraPower to file a construction permit for its small modular nuclear power plant in Wyoming within days. This confirmation of the filing comes amid a media report in which CEO Chris Levesque said that the company would apply for a permit with U.S. regulators before the end of March. TerraPower plans to begin construction of its Wyoming plant in June of this year with the aim of bringing the plant online in 2030.

The Kentucky House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy unanimously passed Senate Bill 198. The bill established a new agency called the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, which will serve as an advisory group with the goal of developing nuclear energy in Kentucky. The group will also focus on partnering with communities and educating the public on the risks and rewards of nuclear power.

X-energy opened a full-scale plant control room simulator, Reactor Protection System prototype, and offices and classrooms, which will be used to train future operators of X-energy’s Xe-100 advanced small modular reactors (SMR). The Plant Support Center (PSC) will train up to 52 operators at one time with a training program, which will support training for the initial deployment of the Xe-100 at Dow’s Seadrift manufacturing facility in Texas. The Xe-100 is a high-temperature gas reactor that received funding from the Department of Energy in 2020 to build an advanced reactor demonstration plant that can be operational within 7 years.

Longview Fusion Energy has secured a contract with engineering and construction specialist Fluor to design what could be the world’s first commercial laser fusion power plant. Longview’s laser fusion power plants are based directly on the experimental demonstration of fusion ignition at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility (NIF), noting that Longview is the only fusion energy company using NIF’s indirect-drive approach. Interest in fusion energy has received a boost after the NIF demonstrated fusion ignition for the first time in a laboratory setting in 2022.

Constellation has issued the first corporate green bond in the United States that can be used to finance nuclear energy projects. Constellation will use proceeds from the $900 million, 30-year term offering for investments such as maintenance, expansion, and life extensions of its clean, reliable nuclear power generation. The nuclear green bond is based on a new green financing framework that Constellation developed to enable the company to issue green financial instruments.

Former MacArthur Foundation senior program officer, Theo Kalionzes, published an article arguing that philanthropic investment in nuclear power-climate change policy development is pivotal to addressing the climate crisis. In spite of the growing scientific consensus that nuclear energy will play a substantial role in mitigating climate change, very few grant makers have expressed interest in financing necessary nuclear-climate intersection policy development and advocacy. Kalionzes points out that with climate philanthropy standing at $8-12 billion a year, a fraction of this would transform efforts at the climate-nuclear nexus.

A report by energy company Wood Mackenzie found that the global small modular reactor pipeline reached 22 gigawatts in the first quarter of 2024, an expansion of 65% since 2021. The report added that five countries drive 58% of the project pipeline (The United States, Poland, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea), and that the current total project pipeline would require an investment of close to $176 billion. Wood Mackenzie adds that policy support is crucial to accelerating SMR projects and the recent momentum is a result of strong public and private partnerships involving established and new companies in the nuclear sector.

The Breakthrough Institute published a report on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) public engagement challenges in fostering inclusive and transparent dialogue, and offered recommendations to improve NRC public engagement. The Breakthrough Institute states that despite recent efforts to improve dialogue, the NRC has not yet addressed several underlying issues and its tendency to prioritize complex procedures over accessible communication alienates the interested public. The report then offers numerous recommendations, such as that the NRC should set a standard to provide clear answers during public interactions, it should prioritize external input to ensure transparency and inclusivity, and Congress should provide adequate funding to support NRC efforts in public engagement.

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) released a report that presents practical guidance to enhance leadership for safety in nuclear regulatory bodies. The NEA identified 12 characteristics and competencies that emerged from the original research underpinning this guide as essential to the development of effective leadership for safety in regulatory bodies, which are grouped into three aspect categories and accompanied by examples of good practices. A five-step program to embed effective leadership for safety in the regulatory body is also provided.

A joint study by McMaster University’s Institute for Energy Studies, the Boltzmann Institute, and the Canadian Nuclear Association found that thermal networks should be recognized as part of Canada’s energy critical infrastructure as it works towards decarbonization goals, adding that such networks could leverage Canada’s strategic investment in new nuclear capacity. The study states that nuclear power plants could be configured for combined heat and power operations and be used as integral elements for thermal networks. The paper proposes that Canadian governments collaborate to develop a Thermal Network Strategy aimed at identifying and supporting thermal network infrastructure investments.

​​The Miracle of Nuclear Energy Derailed by Politics

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