Greetings Patrick!

In this week’s issue, we provide an infographic of the United States’ Nuclear Cooperation Memoranda of Understandings signed with other countries in recent years. We spotlight a CNBC report on how China is catching up with the United States in the race to achieve nuclear fusion reactions and develop fusion reactor technology. 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, Emily Day and Jocelyn Livier.

This infographic illustrates the timeline of Nuclear Cooperation Memoranda of Understanding (NCMOUs) signed between the United States and various countries. It highlights key partnerships, beginning with the UAE and in 2008 and extending to the most recent agreements in 2025 with Singapore and El Salvador. Each year in the infographic represents when a specific country formalized this agreement with the U.S. NCMOUs are used by the U.S. to establish a bilateral foundation for civil nuclear energy engagement with other countries. The NCMOUs are not a substitute for legally binding 123 nuclear cooperation agreements but are step toward that agreement as they allow the U.S. and partner countries to explore collaboration on civil nuclear energy.

Jocelyn Livier, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security

Spotlight

Partnership for Global Security President Ken Luongo was featured in a CNBC YouTube report on nuclear fusion, How China Could Beat the U.S. to Nuclear Fusion, As AI Power Needs Surge. The segment explores how fusion—often referred to as the “holy grail” of clean energy—is increasingly seen as critical for powering the AI-driven future. Early breakthroughs in fusion technology were spearheaded by the U.S. In 2022, the National Ignition Facility created nanoseconds of fusion ignition. But China is now catching up, investing ten times as much in advanced materials as the U.S., training more scientists, filing more patents, speeding up construction, and doubling the U.S. federal investment. Among its efforts is a laser fusion facility twice the size of the U.S. National Ignition Facility and the CRAFT campus, modeled on a 2020 U.S. strategy. Several Chinese projects also appear to be replicating designs from U.S. startup Helion.

Experts warn that at the current pace, China will likely surpass the U.S. within just a few years. Luongo offered a stark assessment of the state of play in the U.S.: “You're not going to have any new fission power in America by 2028, no less fusion power.” He also noted the sudden spike in AI-related electricity demand, explaining, “The AI boom kind of came out of left field when it became clear the sheer volume of power that was going to be required.” In response, major tech companies have been turning to nuclear energy—especially small modular reactors—to meet the massive loads needed to power AI data centers. Yet U.S. public fusion programs remain underfunded, and existing nuclear infrastructure is aging.

The report also highlights the international scope of the race. China and France are competing for plasma containment records at their national tokamaks—EAST and WEST—while both contribute to the delayed International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, the world’s largest international fusion collaboration. Nevertheless, the U.S. maintains an edge in private-sector innovation, with 25 of the 40 companies in the Fusion Industry Association being based in the U.S. Startups like Helion, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and TAE Technologies—supported by Microsoft, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Google—are working to commercialize fusion systems. But without stronger federal support, the U.S. risks repeating past clean tech setbacks like losing the solar panel market to China. U.S. public policy must catch up and collaboration with private innovation is essential in order to maintain U.S. leadership.

Emily Day, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security

Issues of Special Interest

Global AI and Data Center Energy

X-energy CEO Clay Sell stated that the startup’s work with Amazon to deploy small modular reactor (SMR) technology won’t be its only collaboration with a major tech company, adding that there’s more to come during an interview at the recent CERAWeek conference. Sell also described X-energy’s other policy goals, which include receiving help from the Department of Energy’s loan office for power customers looking to harness SMRs while another is ensuring IRA nuclear tax credits continue and get extended. Sell’s confidence signals how interest in long-term data center power is creating markets for SMRs.

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

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced it is prepared to support the implementation of any agreement concerning the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which was a part of Russia-Ukraine ceasefire discussions. Recent talks between U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian leaders addressed energy infrastructure protections, though Ukraine maintains that its nuclear facilities must remain state-owned. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi added that staff at Zaporizhzhia reported less military activity near the plan in the last week and that maintenance work continues to make progress.

Donald Trump reportedly proposed U.S. involvement in operating or potentially owning Ukraine’s nuclear power plants during recent talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy clarified that they only discussed the Zaporizhzhia plant and the possibility of restoring it with American support. The plant remains under Russian control, but Moscow has been unable to connect it to its own grid, and restarting the full facility could take years due to extensive damage and the need for major investment and infrastructure repairs.

Russia's Foreign Ministry declared it will not transfer control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to Ukraine or any other country. Moscow claims the plant’s integration into Russia’s nuclear industry is a settled matter, despite international condemnation and ongoing negotiations involving the U.S. and Ukraine. The statement comes amid U.S. efforts to gain access to Ukrainian energy assets, though President Zelenskyy maintains that Zaporizhzhia cannot operate without Ukrainian oversight.

Representatives from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) nuclear safety department inspected the damage to Chernobyl Unit 4’s giant shelter and held meetings with the power plant’s leaders. EBRD previously allocated €400,000 from its administrative budget of continuing funds for specialist-led damage assessment at the site. Chernobyl Unit 4’s giant shelter was struck by a drone last month, with the impact causing a 15-square-meter hole in the external cladding and compromising the safety of the shuttered power plant.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed into law the legal framework for the acquisition of unused equipment from Bulgaria’s discontinued Belene Nuclear Power Plant in order to finish building two units at the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant. The Ukrainian and Bulgarian governments previously conducted a technical assessment of the VVER equipment stored at Belene with the help of a U.S. technical team last year. Khmelnitsky currently has two operational nuclear reactors, while units 3 and 4 remain uncompleted.

Russia

Russia held a ceremony to mark the first concrete being poured for the foundation of unit 4 at the Leningrad II Nuclear Power Plant. Leningrad II Units 3 and 4 are planned to be commissioned in 2030 and 2032, respectively. The construction of these two units is meant to replace older units at the existing Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, with Leningrad II Units 3 and 4 expected to generate power for 60 years with the possibility of a 20-year extension.

Russian nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor has issued a license for the locating of a fourth unit at the Kursk II Nuclear Power Plant. This license approval also came two weeks after a similar license was issued for the proposed unit 3 at Kursk II. Kursk II is a new nuclear power plant that will feature four VVER-TOI reactors, which is the latest version of Russia’s large light-water designs. The target is for all four units at the power plant to be in operation by 2034.

Russia’s Leypunsky Institute, part of Rosatom, has begun testing mixed oxide (MOX) fuel in the new VVER-S spectral-controlled reactor. The tests aim to validate the neutron physics characteristics of the reactor core. The reactor is slated for future deployment at the Kola-II nuclear power plant in the Murmansk region as part of Rosatom’s push to improve reactor efficiency and support a closed nuclear fuel cycle.

China

China is expanding the commercial applications of nuclear technology, aiming for an annual economic output of 400 billion yuan ($55.25 billion) by 2026, up from 240 billion yuan in 2023. The focus includes using nuclear advancements in medical treatment, agriculture, food processing, and material modification, while also enhancing cooperation with the IAEA to benefit the Global South. However, nuclear energy still only accounted for 4.7% of China’s total power supply in 2024. The government plans to continue approving new reactors.

Unit 2 of Phase II of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant has been connected to the grid following a refueling and maintenance outage during which the unit’s net electrical power has been increased by 33 MW. Among the tasks completed during this outage included an in-service inspection of pressure vessels, modernization of both main and auxiliary turbine generators, and a capacity increase to the generators and the main transformers. Qinshan is China’s largest nuclear power plant, comprising seven reactors.

The outer steel dome of the nuclear island containment building of unit 3 at the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant has been hoisted into place. The containment shell is an important part of the nuclear island reactor building and the third safety barrier to prevent the leakage of radioactive material. The first safety-related concrete was poured for the nuclear island of Haiyang unit 3 in 2022, with the planned construction period being 56 months before both units 3 and 4 are scheduled to be operational in 2027.

Europe

Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a bill that designates funds from the national budget for the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant. Under the bill, Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe is set to receive $15.5 billion in public funding between 2025 and 2030 to build the nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site. Poland selected Westinghouse’s APR1000 reactor technology back in 2022 for the construction of its first nuclear power plant, with the government aiming to have Poland’s first AP1000 reactor enter commercial operation in 2033. The total investment costs of the project are estimated to be about $49 billion.

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček said the proposed construction of new nuclear energy units at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant will bring long-term economic benefits, but that an action plan is needed to avoid negative impacts. Vlček presented the expected socio-economic impacts on the region’s life, which the Ministry of Regional Development will respond to by submitting an action plan by the end of June. The Czech Republic currently has two nuclear power plants, and the country has chosen Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to build new nuclear reactors at Dukovany.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that his government has asked Russia to build a second nuclear power plant in Belarus. As he held talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss the countries’ greater economic integration and a potential second nuclear power plant, Rosatom responded by saying that the issue of building a new nuclear facility is being explored. Rosatom previously built Belarus’ Ostrovets Nuclear Power Plant which began construction in 2013, with its two units connected to the grid by 2023.

France’s government has agreed to issue Électricité de France (EDF) with a subsidized loan covering at least half of the construction costs of six new nuclear reactors. Negotiations between EDF and the French government over financing are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks before being sent to the European Commission for approval. French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for six new nuclear reactors back in 2022, with a total production capacity of about 10 gigawatts to replace old units and secure future energy supplies.

The French government has appointed Framatome head Bernard Fontana as the new CEO of the state-owned enterprise Électricité de France (EDF), replacing Luc Rémont. While the change still needs to be officially approved by parliament, it is expected to take effect in the near future. This change comes days after President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced it had agreed on a state loan for at least half of the construction costs of six new reactors. EDF has struggled with carrying out new nuclear projects, with just one new reactor completed in the last 25 years.

France will delay the commissioning of its next-generation EPR2 nuclear reactors by three years to 2038. The decision, made by France's Nuclear Policy Council (CPN), reflects concerns over rising costs and financing. The CPN asked Électricité de France (EDF) to control costs and timelines and to present an assessment of costs and deadlines by the end of the year. While reaffirming nuclear energy as a strategic priority, the government is also advancing plans for small modular reactors, expanding mining activities, and potentially reviving fast reactor development.

French reactor developer Newcleo acquired a site in Chusclan, France, on which it will build a research and development innovation and training center that will support the development of its future fuel assembly manufacturing facility. Newcleo said the FASTER center will play a key role in its strategy to close the nuclear fuel cycle, hosting spaces for testing engineering solutions and maintenance and advanced training facilities. Newcleo plans to directly invest in a mixed uranium/plutonium oxide (MOX) plant to fuel its small modular lead-cooled fast reactors, with the first reactor expected to be operational by the end of 2031.

Uranium enrichment services provider Urenco has selected British construction company Costain to deliver a new and upgraded infrastructure at its enrichment plant in Capenhurst, England. Costain will lead and deliver an integrated program of Urenco’s infrastructure investment activities, including developing the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of works and upgrades. The British government announced last year it was awarding $254 million to Urenco to build the enrichment facility with the capacity to produce up to 10 tons of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) per year by 2031.

Deep Isolation, the United Kingdom Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), NAC International, and the University of Sheffield achieved the manufacture of a first-of-its-kind disposal canister prototype and elevated Deep Isolation’s technology readiness level. This project began in 2022 under the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) Energy Entrepreneurs Fund. According to information about its funding announcement, developing a canister tailored to U.K. requirements would give British manufacturers an early-mover advantage in a global borehole disposal market.

The Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) completed its review of the feasibility studies by Électricité de France (EDF), Westinghouse, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) for two reactors in the Netherlands. The review suggested that all three designs meet the necessary safety requirements and would be feasible to build. The Ministry of Climate and Green Growth contracted the three companies to conduct their feasibility studies into the construction of their respective reactors, although KHNP recently announced it would be withdrawing from the selection process.

South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has withdrawn from the Netherlands’ nuclear power plant project to focus on the Czech nuclear power plant deal and its small modular reactor business. The Netherlands aims to build two new reactors in the next decade. The move narrows the Dutch competition to Westinghouse and France’s EDF. The decision comes amid speculation that KHNP’s pullback is linked to a recent intellectual property agreement with Westinghouse.

German nuclear technology association Kerntechnik Deutschland e.V. says that restarting the country’s nuclear power plants offers an economically viable and climate-friendly alternative to the current energy policy. It adds that up to six shut down reactors could technically resume operation, adding the recommissioning of those plants enables rapid availability of large installed baseload capacity. Germany began the process of phasing out nuclear power and shutting down its reactors back in 2011, with the country’s final three units shut down in 2023. All units are currently at various stages of decommissioning. 

Germany's Hesse state has signed an agreement with Focused Energy, RWE, and the Technical University of Darmstadt to build a laser-based nuclear fusion demonstration plant by 2035 at the former Biblis nuclear power site. The agreement brings together political, scientific, and industrial partners to establish Hesse as a hub for fusion energy research and development. The project is part of a broader national push to commercialize fusion power, supported by federal and EU funding, with the goal of constructing Germany’s first fusion power plant by 2040.

Finnish energy company Fortum completed a two-year feasibility study on building new nuclear power plants in Finland and Sweden, concluding that such projects would require strong demand growth, public-private partnerships, and a favorable market outlook. Fortum also selected two large reactor vendors plus one small modular reactor vendor to continue discussions: Électricité de France (EDF), Westinghouse-Hyundai, and GE-Hitachi. Although the study found new nuclear power is not currently viable on a merchant basis alone, Fortum sees it as essential for meeting future energy needs and replacing aging capacity in the 2030s.

Finland’s Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology is building two new test facilities at its nuclear engineering laboratory for research into the safety of small modular reactors (SMR). One of the facilities will test the functionality of the emergency core cooling tank of an undisclosed SMR based on French technology, with the tests taking place between 2026 and 2027. The EASI-SMR work program involves 38 partners in 16 countries and is inspired by the European SMR pre-partnership research and development roadmap.

The Belgian government and French utility Engie have closed the agreement covering the extension of the operation of the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors by 10 years, as well as all obligations related to radioactive waste. In addition to closing the agreement, two sides made the payment of the first installment related to the transfer of responsibility for nuclear waste and used fuel, with the second installment to be made in November. Previously, Belgium sought to phase out nuclear power entirely, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine compelled the government to plan for the extension of Doel 4 and Tihange 3’s operating lives by another 10 years.

Swedish Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch called on the European Commission to help secure energy independence by promoting baseload nuclear power production. Representatives from several pro-nuclear EU countries met on the sidelines of a Monday meeting to discuss how to further support nuclear energy, arguing that the EU’s energy policy sidelines nuclear energy by not funding the construction of new reactors. Busch has also been critical of Europe’s over-reliance on renewable energy expansion and Germany’s decision to shut down its fleet of nuclear reactors.

Asia & The Pacific

The U.S. Department of Energy's recent designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" has sparked controversy and concern in both countries. Korea’s Industry Minister met with the U.S. Secretary of Energy last week and they agreed to “resolve” the issue. The decision seems to be based on a 2023 incident where a contractor at Idaho National Laboratory attempted to steal reactor design software and take it to South Korea. However, South Korea's opposition politicians link the designation to discussions on the potential development of indigenous nuclear weapons in South Korea. Despite the designation, the U.S. has assured South Korea that there will be no new restrictions on scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.

The Indian Railways has initiated discussions with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Ministry of Power to set up small nuclear power plants for its energy requirements. The Indian Railways will offer land and offtake agreements with DAE and the Power Ministry will facilitate the establishment of power plants with a fuel supply agreement. The state-owned railway enterprise plans to buy 3 gigawatts of renewable energy and another 3 gigawatts of thermal and nuclear by 2030.

India’s Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Unit 7 has been connected to the grid, comprising the third 700 MWe indigenous heavy water reactor to be connected to India’s power grid following Kakrapar units 3 and 4. A second 700 MWe unit at the Rajasthan site, RAPP-8, is also under construction and is expected to be operational in 2025-26. Earlier this year, India’s government outlined ambitions for the development of at least 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2047 to support India’s energy transition efforts.

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has developed what it calls the world’s first “uranium rechargeable battery” and that tests have verified its performance in charging and discharging. The uranium storage battery utilizes depleted uranium as the negative electrode active material and iron as the positive one, and the JAEA now aims to increase the capacity of its batteries following the successful tests. Meanwhile, South Korean researchers have developed a prototype beta-voltaic battery powered by the carbon-14 isotope as it is pursuing radiocarbon as a source for affordable nuclear batteries.

The United States and Japan are collaborating on safety tests for high-burnup fast reactor fuel at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as part of a five-year initiative. This testing, using the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility, aims to better understand the limits of fast reactor fuels and inform future designs. The tests focus on mixed-oxide fuel used in Japanese reactors and a U.S.-developed metallic alloy fuel, with the initial experiments set to conclude later this year.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced it aims to restart a reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in this fiscal year. The reactor restart is expected to boost TEPCO’s earnings by around $672 million according to the company’s revised business plan. However, TEPCO’s plans remain uncertain as the company has yet to gain local approval, and TEPCO has also called for an increase in state financial aid for the reactor’s restart.

IAEA experts have confirmed that the tritium concentration of the 11th batch of diluted Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water is far below Japan’s operational limit of 1500 becquerels per liter and is in line with international safety standards. The IAEA has regularly found that Japan’s plan for handling the treated water is consistent with international standards. Contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is being stored in around 1,000 huge tanks at the plant, with the ALPS process removing most of the radioactive contamination outside of tritium.

Chubu Electric Power Co. has begun dismantling Japan's first commercial reactor at its Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, starting with the removal of the pressure vessel’s top lid. The dismantling process began with unit 2, following earlier decontamination and waste removal efforts. The company originally planned to begin in 2023 but postponed it to study radiation exposure safety measures, and the entire decommissioning process is expected to take up to 12 years.

The head of Kazakh nuclear agency Kazatomprom has briefed the country’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on the agency’s long-term approach. Kazatomprom CEO Meirzhan Yussupov said the company’s Board of Director approved an updated development strategy from 2025 to 2034, in which Kazatomprom will focus on uranium mining as its core business in addition to providing updates on its estimated resource potential and consolidated revenues. Kazatomprom expects 2025 production from its Inkai project to be down on previous expectations following a temporary suspension in January.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Almassadam Satkaliyev to head the new Agency for Atomic Energy which will take over various nuclear-related functions and powers from Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry. The agency will take on functions in areas of subsoil use, use of atomic energy, ensuring radiation safety, and the creation and operation of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone in the field of uranium production. Kazakhstan’s government has formally selected the Zhambyl district as the location for its proposed nuclear power plant, with ministers aiming to select a technology supplier this year.

Russian nuclear agency Rosatom completed the turbine installation for unit 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh, marking the most recent milestone towards start-up. The previous week, hydraulic tests were completed on the unit, paving the way for hot functional tests to begin. Rosatom signed an agreement with Bangladesh to build the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant back in 2011, with the first batch of nuclear fuel delivered to the site in 2023. Rosatom added that grid connection of Rooppur 1 is one of its key targets for this year.

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) of Indonesia is preparing for the decommissioning of its nuclear research reactors in collaboration with the IAEA. Experts from the IAEA visited Indonesia to assist with increasing human resource capacity and providing guidance on decommissioning planning, waste management, and the use of advanced technologies. The preparation aims to ensure safety and security during the decommissioning process, particularly for the Triga Bandung Reactor, Indonesia's oldest research reactor.

Hungary will assist Vietnam in training 1,000 nuclear power plant operators to support the development of the country's first nuclear facility. This collaboration was discussed during a meeting between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who emphasized the need for skilled personnel in nuclear operations for Vietnam’s energy strategy. Vietnam’s Ninh Thuan nuclear power project aims to provide 2,000MW of capacity by 2030, but the success of the initiative depends on developing a highly qualified workforce for construction, operation, and nuclear safety.

Africa

Kenya has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corporation (CNECC) to advance its nuclear energy program, focusing on technical collaboration, research, and technology transfer. This agreement aligns with Kenya's strategy to diversify its energy mix and meet rising electricity demand, with nuclear power seen as a stable long-term solution. Kenya aims to commission its first nuclear power plant by 2034, with plans to begin construction in 2027 and a targeted capacity of 1,000 MW, also collaborating with Russia and the US for expertise in nuclear energy.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Niger to meet with Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine and other senior officials, as well as to visit the Cominak and Somaïr uranium mines. High-level meetings were held with Zeine and other officials to enhance support for the country through the peaceful uses of nuclear technology for mining, water management, and cancer care. Niger is one of the biggest producers of uranium in the world, although numerous operating permits for foreign companies have been withdrawn by the current military government.

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has warned the public against purchasing or encroaching on land near its nuclear facilities, citing illegal activities that pose risks to safety and security. Ghanaian official Anthony Nana Boateng revealed that the encroachments are taking place along the Bohye stretch of its property. The encroachments are affecting areas designated for critical infrastructure, including the construction of an Electron Beam Irradiation Facility, which is vital for sustainable agriculture and national food security.

South African Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientso Ramokgopa announced a budget allocation of $66 million towards a new multipurpose reactor at Pelindaba to succeed the existing Safari-1 research reactor. The Safari-1 reactor has been in operation since 1965 and is currently licensed to operate until 2030. The South African cabinet approved the construction of the Multipurpose Reactor to succeed the Safari-1 research reactor back in 2021.

Namibia’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has recommended that uranium exploration activities in the Omaheke region should continue in the absence of evidence that groundwater has been or will be contaminated. The committee also recommended that the government appoint independent hydrologists, geologists, and geochemists to review in-situ recovery activities. Namibia is a major producer of uranium, producing around 11% of the world output in 2022 and home to about 5% of the world’s total known uranium resources.

Paladin Energy's Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia has temporarily suspended operations due to unseasonal heavy rainfall, which has hindered access to the site. The company has reduced its annual production guidance to 3M–3.6M pounds down from the previous 4M-4.5M pounds due to operational challenges and delays in ramping up production.

The Middle East

Rosatom has completed key welding for the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of Unit 1 at Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant at its Izhora facility in St. Petersburg. The welding operation lasted 10 days, and the RPV can move on to heat treatment and quality inspections. El Dabaa will feature four Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors, with construction backed by a $25 billion Russian loan and full project completion expected by 2028–2029.

The Moroccan government has adopted a draft decree to enhance nuclear and radiological safety and security, creating the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security. The decree, which aligns with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, establishes guidelines for sharing information about nuclear facilities, materials, and technologies. It also outlines the creation of a national system to account for nuclear materials and sets provisions for national and IAEA inspections.

South & Central America

Brazil's government remains divided over whether to complete the Angra 3 nuclear plant, which has been under construction for over 40 years. While Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira supports finishing the project, citing its potential to provide reliable energy, the economic team argues that the costs—estimated at an additional 23 billion reais ($4 billion) —are too high. The decision, which has been delayed multiple times, rests with the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE), with further discussions expected.

North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy

United States

The Department of Energy re-issued a $900 million solicitation to support the deployment of small modular reactors (SMR) to better align with President Trump’s agenda to advance U.S. energy and AI development. The funding aims to de-risk the deployment of Generation III+ SMRs through two tiers. The First Mover Team Support tier will provide up to $800 million to support first mover teams of utility, reactor vendor, constructor, and end-users committed to deploying a first power plant while also facilitating a multi-reactor SMR orderbook. The Fast Follower Deployment Support tier will provide approximately $100 million to spur additional SMR deployments by addressing key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry.

The head of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, said that he has asked the lender’s board to reverse its long-standing policy against funding nuclear power projects. Banga said that the board has indicated its willingness to discuss this change and added that he expects the move to be included in a broader energy policy proposal expected in June 2026. Since its founding, the World Bank has only funded one nuclear project in Italy back in 1959. Banga’s comments come at a time when governments and companies are eying more nuclear power as a clean and reliable source of energy.

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and other organizations have weighed in on the latest version of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Part 53 licensing pathway for nuclear reactors. NEI said that the new version must be changed to comport with recent directives from Congress and the Executive Branch to achieve the most effective and efficient regulatory framework possible for next generation nuclear technology. The industry group’s recommendation was one of dozens submitted by organizations since the NRC released the proposed rule last fall, with many recommendations urging the NRC to amend the proposed rule to make it less prescriptive and reduce perceived burdens on future licensees.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) announced the opening of the BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Lynchburg campus is home to BWXT’s business unit and will utilize its laboratories and workspaces to design, build, and test advanced nuclear systems for NASA, the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, national research laboratories, and commercial applications. The state of Virginia has been supporting BWXT through grants and investments since 2021, helping BWXT invest $51 million in the site in addition to $227,000 in tax incentives.

Terrestrial Energy has merged with special purpose acquisition company HCM II Acquisition Corp. and has subsequently gone public. The combined entity expects to list on Nasdaq under the symbol IMSR, as well as net $280 million from the deal. Terrestrial Energy is a nuclear technology developer that is currently developing small modular reactors (SMR) and joins other nuclear companies like Oklo in going public.

Advanced nuclear reactor company Oklo has appointed Daniel Poneman and Michael Thompson as its new Board Directors following the departure of Chris Wright, who is now the U.S. Secretary of Energy. Poneman has decades of experience in the U.S. nuclear industry across both the public and private sectors, most notably serving as the Deputy Energy Secretary for the Department of Energy between 2009 and 2014. Thompson also has 25 years of experience, serving as CEO and Managing Partner of private investment fund Reinvent Capital since 2017.

Nuclear technology company TerraPower and engineering company KBR formed a strategic alliance to establish a long-term collaboration for the commercialization and deployment of TerraPower’s Natrium design for North America and abroad. Under the agreement, TerraPower will lead efforts related to engineering, research, and development, supply chain, and regulatory activities. Meanwhile, KBR will provide engineering, procurement, and construction management services. The Natrium technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor, with non-nuclear construction on the Kemmerer project beginning in June of last year.

Westinghouse and Urenco have signed a long-term enrichment agreement under which Urenco will provide enrichment of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to Westinghouse for five years of deployment for its eVinci microreactor, hoping to apply energy to industries such as mining and data centers. Westinghouse says the factory-built eVinci reactor works essentially as a battery, providing versatility for power systems. In addition to this deal, Urenco was recently awarded $12.4 million by the British government to help develop HALEU enrichment capability at its Capenhurst site.

Nuclear start-up Oklo signed an Interface Agreement (IAG) with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) pertaining to the siting and environmental review of the Aurora powerhouse reactor, which is targeted for deployment by late 2027. Oklo told POWER magazine that the agreement establishes protocols for site investigation activities, including conducting site characterization activities assessments, completing cultural and biological surveys, and complying with federal and Department of Energy environmental review processes. The agreement follows a memorandum of agreement finalized in September 2024 between Oklo and INL.

U.S. uranium production significantly increased throughout the course of 2024, with even more growth planned in 2025. In the fourth quarter of 2024, production of uranium concentrate at U.S. uranium processing facilities and mills reached 375,401 pounds, the highest quarterly uranium production since 2018. However, production still lagged behind other uranium producers such as Kazakhstan, Canada, Russia, and Australia. Producers are now waiting for signals from Washington, including the impact of tariffs, shifting relations with global uranium producers, and funding for enrichment task orders.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has praised the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in contrast to President Donald Trump’s proposal to eliminate the division and Republican calls to scrap the agency. Wright stated that the agency is necessary to help power an AI race that will be critical for the future of national defense and energy security, and he also promoted small modular reactors (SMR) including projects by Westinghouse and Deep Isolation that have received funding from the ARPA-E. The agency has recently appeared on a list of programs being scrutinized by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

The Trump administration released a second loan disbursement of $56.8 million to Holtec International as part of the $1.52 billion loan guarantee for the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan. Although the loan was finalized under the previous Biden administration, this marks the first publicly announced loan guarantee action under the Trump administration. Holtec plans to recommission the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant by the end of the year, although this schedule will depend on approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

A virtual meeting was held to discuss local concerns surrounding Constellation Energy’s planned restart of Unit 1 at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania. Opponents expressed concerns about how much traffic the planned restart would generate, how the radioactive spent fuel would be stored, and whether the power plant would have any negative environmental impact on the nearby Susquehanna River. Constellation Energy announced a contract last year to supply Microsoft with 835 megawatts of electricity from Three Mile Island Unit 1 for Microsoft’s data center operations.

ExLabs and Antares have formed a strategic partnership to develop the first commercial nuclear-powered spacecraft for deep-space applications. Through the partnership, Antares’ microreactor technology will be integrated into ExLab’s Science Exploration and Resource Vehicle (SERV), establishing a high-power spacecraft platform for Geostationary Orbit and deep-space operations. Beyond this initial demonstration, ExLabs and Antares will pursue long-term strategic collaboration, with ExLabs serving as a partner spacecraft and module integrator for Antares’ nuclear systems.

A bill adding nuclear power to Colorado’s definition of “clean energy resources” passed through the state’s legislature and will head to Governor Jared Polis for approval. While the bill would not greenlight the construction of any new nuclear power plants, it would allow for future nuclear projects to contribute to the state’s renewable energy goals and receive local grants. Colorado only had one operating nuclear power plant that closed in 1989, but lawmakers have warmed up to the idea of bringing nuclear power back to the state.

Researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) successfully demonstrated an efficient way to produce fuel for the world’s first fast-spectrum, salt-fueled reactor test. The Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) team needed to make 18 kilograms of fuel salt at a time while successfully converting 90% of the uranium metal feedstock into uranium chloride fuel salt. The results will help inform the commercial deployment of TerraPower and Southern Company’s Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR).

Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have demonstrated a new method to track chemical changes in molten salt in real time. ORNL researchers investigated whether a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique could be used on molten salt by using a laser pulse to create a micro-plasma in a molten salt aerosol stream. For the first time, it was possible to identify isotopes present in the molten salt using non-radiometric method, with ORNL now working to optimize LIBS to detect impurities within molten salt aerosols.

Canada

Westinghouse announced new partnerships to expand its nuclear energy footprint in Canada, including agreements with Urenco to fuel its eVinci microreactor and Shawflex to supply components for its reactor fleet. The eVinci microreactor can produce 5MWe and can run for at least 8 years before refueling. These efforts support Canada’s emissions reduction goals while boosting domestic manufacturing.

Canada announced nearly C$450 million in new subsidies to support nuclear energy. The government will provide C$304 million to AtkinsRéalis to advance the MONARK reactor design and will direct $55 million from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Future Electricity Fund (FEF) to Ontario Power Generation's Darlington project for small modular reactors. FEF also increased funding to $80 million for SaskPower's pre-development program, and $52.4 million will go toward various projects in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario.

First Hydrogen Corp. announced the launch of its subsidiary, First Nuclear Corp., to advance nuclear energy through the innovative use of small modular reactors. First Nuclear will aim to integrate advanced nuclear technology with green hydrogen production, as well as ensure a stable, cost-effective, and efficient process for producing green hydrogen worldwide. As a subsidiary of First Hydrogen, First Nuclear will add to the company’s Hydrogen-as-a-Service model that seeks to deliver a comprehensive energy ecosystem for businesses and communities.

Mexico

There are no new updates for this region.

New Research

Growth In Global Energy Demand Surged in 2024 to Almost Twice Its Recent Average

International Energy Agency, March 24

Nuclear Power in the World Today

World Nuclear Association, March 21

Op-Eds & Articles

What’s Holding Back Nuclear in the West?

BCG, March 26

How ‘France First’ Doomed a Nuclear CEO

Politico, March 26

Preserve Nuclear Energy Tax Incentives to Bolster National Security

The Washington Examiner, March 26

Can ARPA-E Survive a Second Trump Term?

Latitude Media, March 25

Waking Up Three Mile Island to Give Nuclear Power a New Twist

The National Interest, March 25

Recycling Power: Rethinking Nuclear West

Real Clear Energy, March 25

Will Texas Become ‘the Epicenter of a National Nuclear Renaissance’?”

Inside Climate News, March 24

Unleashing American Energy: A Bold Vision for Prosperity and Pragmatism

Real Clear Energy, March 24

The Supreme Court Will Decide the American Nuclear Industry’s Future

Forbes, March 20

Trump Eyes Europe’s Biggest Nuclear Power Plant. Problem: It’s Occupied by Russia

Politico, March 20

America’s Nuclear Renaissance: How the TVA Can Lead Our Energy Future

Power Mag, March 20

The Golden Age of Nuclear Energy Is Here

Real Clear Energy, March 20

What Are the Ukrainian and Russian Energy Assets in Focus After Trump-Putin Call?

Reuters, March 19

Can the US Triple Its Nuclear Capacity by 2050?

Ark Invest, March 18

Trump Suggests Ukraine’s Largest Nuclear Plant Is on the Line in Talks with Putin. What’s Next for Zaporizhzhia?

CNN, March 18

Proceed With Caution: The Price of Neglecting Safety for SMRs

The National Interest, March 18

South Korea-United States Nuclear Cooperation: A Key to Both Nations’ Prosperity

The National Interest, March 17

How A.I. Companies Are Turning Into Energy Companies

The New York Times, March 17

Fusion Energy: Unlocking The Power of the Stars

CBS News, March 16

The Climate Fix: Nuclear Waste Finds Its Forever Home

The New York Times, March 14

News items and summaries compiled by:

Patrick Kendall, Program Manager, Partnership for Global Security

Emily Day, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security

Jocelyn Livier, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security