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Greetings!
In this issue, we provide an infographic covering recent nuclear energy agreements that expand cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan. We spotlight a Bloomberg article that analyzes the rise and risks associated with advanced nuclear technology startups, including efforts to streamline the regulatory process and reduce barriers to reactor deployment. 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 and Gabriela Zanko.
| | Strengthening Nuclear Partnerships: U.S. Agreements with U.K., South Korea, and Japan | | The U.S. government, as part of its policy of revitalizing nuclear energy, has been very active in recent months, signing nuclear energy-related agreements with some of its top allies: the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan. The agreement with the United Kingdom will fast-track civil nuclear deployment and streamline the regulatory review for new reactors. The U.K. has made a clear national commitment to the expansion of nuclear energy and is seeking to deploy both large and small reactors. The United States and South Korea will engage in discussions on revising their nuclear cooperation framework agreement to include sensitive new areas such as uranium enrichment, spent-fuel reprocessing, and potential submarine-nuclear technology sharing. These three issues have been priorities for South Korea for years. The U.S.-Japan memorandum of cooperation covers nuclear fusion, advanced reactor research and development, and the critical minerals supply chain. New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pushing forward on the re-start of reactors that were shut down after the Fukushima nuclear accident. She views nuclear energy as an important element in Japan’s energy and strategic independence. These deals highlight the United States’ renewed commitment to strengthening its relationships with key allies on nuclear energy, as well as its commitment to counteracting nuclear technology exports from Russia and China. | | |
Mackenzie Hansen, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security
Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security
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Spotlight
Bloomberg published a detailed article analyzing the rise of nuclear technology startups in the United States and how they are leading the charge to accelerate the deployment of nuclear power. The article primarily focuses on Oklo, a small reactor company that is backed by OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, although it is publicly traded now.
An important finding of the story is that Oklo is following a controversial Silicon Valley start-up strategy of confronting the key regulatory authority in an industry, in this case the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), to weaken impediments to deployment. Oklo’s initial reactor application in 2020 was found to have significant problems by the NRC. This confrontational approach has been used by other less sensitive Silicon Valley start-ups like the ride-share company Uber, which overran taxi commissions. While Oklo argues that its reactors will be so small and safe that far less NRC oversight is needed, nuclear rand energy experts have criticized efforts to bulldoze the NRC, raising concern that it may create weak links in the process that can lead to failures and dangers that will set back nuclear power’s global expansion.
Oklo is part of a new breed of nuclear startups that are racing to commercialize and deploy small reactors that can power AI data centers and serve other energy purposes. Other start-up nuclear companies have received backing from tech giants including Google, Amazon, and Meta. The U.S. government has thrown its support behind constructing these novel nuclear reactors and pushed the Departments of Energy and Defense to provide land to support the development and demonstration of these reactors and their fuel facilities.
| | Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security | | Issues of Special Interest | | Global AI and Data Center Energy | | |
Global research and consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie published a report that projects U.S. nuclear generation will remain steady until 2035 before increasing significantly through 2060. Fueling this rise in nuclear generation projections in the United States and globally is the growing energy demand coming from data centers, which is expected to rise from 700 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2025 to 3,500 TWh by 2050. Wood Mackenzie adds that technology companies are increasingly becoming energy providers by necessity to meet the growing demand in energy.
Blue Energy has secured a site for a nuclear power plant in Texas to power Crusoe’s nearby artificial intelligence factories. Blue Energy says its gas-to-nuclear conversion project will see it power the proposed Crusoe AI factory campus from 2028 before transitioning to nuclear generation by 2031. Blue Energy’s model is for a modular, “reactor agnostic” power plant architecture to house next-generation nuclear reactors using centralized manufacturing at existing sites, with the temporary use of gas generation meaning that nuclear power can be delivered within 36 months.
| | The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine on International Nuclear Affairs | | |
Russia’s latest military operations on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure involved a missile and drone attack conducted on October 30th. The assault involved over 650 drones and 50 missiles, as reported by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and included targets such as the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant. The incident prompted further requests by Zelenskyy for Western nations to increase sanctions on Russia. The attacks came as winter approaches, worsening conditions for civilians and putting further strain on Ukraine’s power grid.
An update on the situation in Ukraine published by the IAEA confirmed substation damage due to the attack and reported that the reliability of power supplies to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants were also impacted. The team conducted an on-site assessment to evaluate the extent of the damage and its implications for nuclear safety and security. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi continues to warn that military operations on Ukraine’s power grid pose serious nuclear safety and security risks, and all countries should refrain from targeting nuclear energy infrastructure during conflict.
| | Global Nuclear Developments, Geopolitics, & Governance | | Rosatom's mechanical engineering division, Atommash, introduced a “Nuclear Spider” robot designed to inspect welded joints in nuclear reactors and steam generators. The robots can navigate various surfaces and detect defects using advanced ultrasonic testing and can perform these tasks about three times faster than previously utilized methods. Atommash is developing around 30 more robotic and digital technologies for the improved construction, inspection, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants. | | |
China’s TMSR-LF1 reactor in Wuwei achieved the world’s first successful conversion of thorium-uranium nuclear fuel, according to the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP). Commissioned in 2023, the reactor uses liquid fuel dissolved in molten salt, enabling continuous operation and reducing radioactive waste compared to conventional reactors. The milestone establishes China as the only nation operating a thorium-based molten salt reactor and marks a key step toward the country’s goal of completing a 100 MWt demonstration reactor by 2035.
China’s State Power Investment Corporation installed the second steam generator at Unit 1 of the Lianjiang Nuclear Power Plant, completing installation of all key reactor island components. The milestone follows earlier placement of the reactor pressure vessel in February and marks progress toward connecting the primary circuit. The six-unit site will generate about 70 TWh annually once fully operational and will be China’s first nuclear plant to employ seawater secondary circulation cooling and a super-large cooling tower.
China General Nuclear (CGN) installed the outer containment dome at Unit 5 of the Lufeng Nuclear Power Plant, marking a major construction milestone for the site’s first Hualong One reactor. The achievement paves the way for containment testing and subsequent installation work on the nuclear island. Lufeng 5 and 6, approved in 2022, are scheduled for grid connection in 2028 and 2029, respectively. The Lufeng site will eventually host six reactors, including four planned CAP1000 units.
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TerraPower submitted its Natrium reactor design and energy storage system into the United Kingdom’s Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process. This is the company’s first regulatory step to deploying the Natrium technology in an international process as the GDA will assess the safety and security implications of the reactor design and allow TerraPower to establish deployment timelines for potential Natrium sites in the United Kingdom. The first Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor plant is currently set to be built in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
The Sizewell C nuclear power plant project has reached its financial close, which includes £5 billion ($6.5 billion) in export credit financing by BpifranceAE and debt financing from the United Kingdom’s National Wealth Fund. Électricité de France (EDF) added that it would invest a maximum of £1.1 billion during the construction period and would have a stake of 12.5% in the project, with the British government having a 44.9% stake and other companies holding the remainder of the project. The Sizewell C project is for two EDF-designed EPR reactors to produce 3.2 gigawatts of electricity.
Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a contract and memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BWX Technologies (BWXT) to support future collaboration in the development and deployment of Rolls-Royce's SMR technology. Under the detailed design contract, BWXT will design the nuclear steam generators that will be used in the Rolls-Royce SMR unit, and the two sides will develop a localization plan for future manufacturing work and other activities to support the Rolls-Royce SMR’s deployment in the global market. BWXT has supplied more than 315 steam generators for nuclear power plants worldwide.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Bilfinger UK have developed a virtual simulator to train operators of the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility in a safe, realistic digital environment. UKAEA views the simulator as a major step in advancing fusion technology, training capability, and collaboration within the clean energy industry. Set to be completed by 2028 at Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, the facility will be the world’s largest tritium fuel cycle research center, focusing on tritium processing, storage, and recycling for future fusion power plants.
At the 2025 World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris, uranium enrichment company Urenco signed a multi-billion-euro contract with Électricité de France (EDF), France’s state-backed energy provider. The deal ensures Urenco will continue supplying enrichment services for EDF’s nuclear stations in both France and the United Kingdom well into the 2040s. Urenco CEO Boris Schucht highlighted that the agreement strengthens Europe’s energy independence during a time of global uncertainty.
Italian companies Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare (together with Arabelle Solutions, Framatome and Tractebel), have signed a declaration of intent with Électricité de France (EDF) subsidiary Nuward that reinforces cooperation to speed up Nuward’s small modular reactor (SMR) program. Building on an earlier 2023 collaboration, the initiative aims to create next-generation water-cooled SMRs capable of generating both electricity and heat for various uses, including industrial processes and district heating.
France’s Orano signed engineering agreements with Ametra, Assystem, and Vulcain to modernize its fuel recycling and processing plants under its Aval du Futur program. The initiative includes building new facilities at La Hague, such as a mixed-oxide fuel plant and an updated fuel unloading system, expected to be operational in the early 2040s. Orano’s engineering director Guillaume Dureau stated that the company is undergoing a major transformation to manage a projected workload exceeding 10 million hours by 2030, emphasizing recruitment and strong industrial partnerships.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that the first reactor of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is scheduled to begin electricity production in 2026. While speaking at the Verona Eurasia Economic Forum in Istanbul, Bayraktar described the project as a historic turning point for Turkey’s energy diversification strategy. Turkey is building four nuclear reactor units at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in collaboration with Russian nuclear agency Rosatom, with the $20 billion power plant set to have a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts once construction is complete.
Rosatom delivered the automated process control system for Unit 1 of Turkey’s Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, marking a key milestone toward commissioning the country’s first nuclear reactor. The 555-tonne shipment included 42,000 components, such as control cabinets, computing modules, and safety system hardware, used to monitor and manage all major reactor and plant processes. Installation of the APCS follows completion of most systems needed for cold and hot testing. Akkuyu will host four VVER-1200 reactors built under a Russian “build-own-operate” model.
The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) has granted a partial permit for soil stabilization at the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant, allowing groundwork to begin on the first of two planned reactor units. The permit covers deep soil reinforcement to improve stability during seismic events and is a prerequisite for future concrete pouring, expected in February 2026. The project, led by Russia’s Rosatom under a 2014 agreement, will add two VVER-1200 reactors to Hungary’s existing Paks site.
Poland’s National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) signed a cooperation agreement with Westinghouse Electric to collaborate on nuclear energy research, with a focus on advanced technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs). The partnership will involve joint technological projects, scientific studies, training programs, and the development of research infrastructure to support innovation in nuclear materials and systems. This collaboration builds on Poland’s earlier decision to use Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor technology for its first commercial nuclear power plant in Pomerania.
Sweden’s parliament has voted to pass legislation that would lift the country’s ban on uranium mining and extraction. The decision also means that activities in which small amounts of uranium are handled will not be subject to a permit requirement and cannot be subject to a municipal veto. The Swedish government amended the Environmental Code in 2018 to ban uranium exploration and mining in the country, but the current government recently announced the draft law earlier this year that would allow for the resumption of uranium extraction.
Spanish energy companies Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy have requested that the Spanish government extend the lifespan of the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant until 2030. The government has encouraged the companies to propose a new timeline for the power plant’s operation while setting conditions to open the discussion such as guaranteeing the security supply, safety, and that the extension does not burden taxpayers. A major blackout in April of this year revived the debate over nuclear power in Spain as the country currently plans to begin phasing out its nuclear power plants in 2027.
The European Investment Bank has agreed to a €90 million ($104 million) loan for updating automation and control systems and steam separators for the two units at Finland’s Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant. Finnish nuclear company TVO submitted its environmental impact assessment report in 2024 for its project to extend the operation and uprating of Olkiluoto units 1 and 2, with these upgrades being required under both Finnish and European Union legislation. TVO is considering extending the operating licenses of both units by a further 10 to 20 years and increasing the power output of each reactor.
Belgian utility Electrabel selected Framatome to modernize the control rod system of Belgium’s Tihange Nuclear Power Plant unit 3. The project will consist of the complete replacement of control cabinets with Roadline technology, as well as engineering, on-site installation, and maintenance activities. This is part of the Belgian government’s measures to extend the operational life of Tihange 3 for a further ten years, which is one of Belgium’s two remaining nuclear reactors.
The Belgian Nuclear Forum and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) signed a letter of intent to work together on developing new nuclear energy projects in Belgium, including exploring the use of small modular reactors (SMRs). The agreement, made during the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris, follows Belgium’s repeal of its 2003 nuclear phaseout law, now replaced by the “Bihet Law,” which allows renewed investment in nuclear energy. The partnership aims to assess the feasibility of building new reactors in Belgium by 2035, marking a key step in the country’s nuclear revival.
The European Council approved an agreement allowing Switzerland to join the Horizon Europe research innovation program in addition to the Euratom nuclear program and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fusion project. Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship research and innovation program launched in 2021. Switzerland currently has four commercial nuclear power plants amidst the country’s previous policy to phase out nuclear energy, but the government presented draft legislation this year to end its ban on building new nuclear power plants in the country.
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Fermi America signed two nuclear deals with South Korean companies ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea. Fermi’s agreement with Doosan Enerbility supports forging production of critical long-term nuclear equipment for Westinghouse AP1000 reactor projects. Its front-end engineering design (FEED) contract with Hyundai E&C is to begin engineering work on four AP1000 nuclear reactors for Project Matador in Texas. These announcements follow a previous memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Doosan and Fermi for the development of large-scale reactors and small modular reactors (SMR).
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he has given South Korea approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine on U.S. territory. In a social media post, Trump said the submarine will be built in a Philadelphia shipyard owned by South Korean firms and where the Korean government has agreed to increase investment. Formal bilateral discussions between officials have not yet commenced and there are questions about whether the Philadelphia shipyard is adequately equipped to build submarines.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction announced it has hired former Westinghouse vice president Michael Coon to expand its global nuclear power plant business. He will be responsible for securing new orders for both large reactors and small modular reactors (SMR) and will also lead consulting efforts and expand networking with international partners. Coon already has experience working with South Korea’s nuclear industry, having been directly involved in designing Korean nuclear reactor units for the Hanbit, Hanul, and Saeul power plants.
The United States and Japan signed a deal on next-generation nuclear reactors and rare earth minerals as Japan seeks to expand its nuclear technology activity. As part of this deal, Japan mentioned its mutual interest to cooperate in the construction of next-generation Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMR) with involvement from Japanese companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toshiba Group. As the new Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi has made the expansion of nuclear power one of her government’s top priorities in the energy sector.
NuScale Power and its global strategic partner, ENTRA1, announced it is positioned to receive up to $25 billion in investment capital under the newly signed U.S.-Japan Framework Agreement on expanding critical energy infrastructure and strengthening supply chains. While the mechanism for trade deal has not been described in press statements, ENTRA1 Energy stated it will develop a fleet of power plants utilizing baseload energy sources such as nuclear to meet growing energy demand. NuScale added it is prepared to provide its 77 MW small modular reactors (SMR) in arrays of six or twelve units.
Kansai Electric is beginning surveys of the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant site to determine if a new reactor could be built as a replacement for unit 1 which was permanently shut down in 2015. The projected timeline is for the detailed survey to take place between 2027 and 2030, and Reuters reports that Kansai is considering the deployment of SRX-1200 advanced reactors that are developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Kansai originally announced its intention in 2010 to begin a voluntary survey at the Mihama site for the construction of new reactor, but the survey has been suspended since the Fukushima reactor meltdown in 2011.
Japanese start-up Helical Fusion has completed a critical performance test of its high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coil, marking a major milestone towards commercializing its nuclear fusion technology. Helical Fusion said the successful test of its HTS Coil replicated the magnetic environment inside a fusion device and achieved a stable current flow under superconducting conditions. This could pave the way for the company to build and manufacture its Helix HARUKA demonstration device in order to prove the feasibility of continuous fusion reactions.
Singapore’s Minister of Energy, Science, and Technology, Tan See Leng, announced that Singapore is seriously studying the deployment of nuclear energy at the Singapore International Energy Week. Leng cited rising geopolitical uncertainties and climate change as some of the factors supporting the deployment of next-generation nuclear power technologies such as small modular reactors (SMR). Singapore’s government conducted a pre-feasibility study on nuclear power in 2012 that found nuclear power plants weren’t suited for the city-state, but it also allowed the government to continue monitoring the progress of new nuclear technologies.
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South Africa is poised to lift the “care and maintenance” status of its legacy Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project by the first quarter of 2026 or sooner. Once a leading small-modular-reactor initiative, the PBMR program was halted in 2010 after more than 10 billion rand had been invested without delivering a demonstration unit. The revival is part of the upcoming Integrated Resource Plan which targets new generation capacity of 105 GW by 2039, including 5.2 GW of nuclear energy, with potential international partners from China, the United States, Russia and South Korea.
The IAEA conducted its Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission to Kenya with the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) hosting the review team. The IRRS team noted the KNRA’s proactive approach to safety while providing recommendations such as the establishment of a national policy and strategy consistent with IAEA standards, as well as the implementation of a management system for the KNRA. Kenya does not currently operate any nuclear installations but is considering the introduction of nuclear power to help meet its growing energy demand.
Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers approved a regulation to establish the Ethiopian Nuclear Energy Commission, tasked with coordinating the country’s peaceful nuclear technology efforts, including power generation, industrial development, healthcare and research. The creation of the commission is part of Ethiopia’s ongoing push to diversify its energy sources following the inauguration of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in September. It also comes weeks after Ethiopia and Russia signed an action plan for the development of a nuclear power plant project in Ethiopia.
| | Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) announced plans to expand the country’s nuclear power capacity to 20 gigawatts, with sites soon to be revealed for eight new reactors under a contract with Russia. AEOI head Mohammad Eslami said new locations include Golestan Province in the north and the long-stalled Darkhovin project in the south, while construction continues on the second and third units at Bushehr, alongside a desalination plant. The agreement with Rosatom also covers future small modular reactor cooperation. | | There are no new updates for this region. | | North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy | | |
The U.S. government inked a partnership with the Canadian owners of Westinghouse Electric that aims to build at least $80 billion in nuclear reactors. Under the agreement with Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management, the U.S. government will arrange financing and help secure permits for Westinghouse reactors in return for offering the United States a 20% share of future profits after Westinghouse has paid out profits of $17.5 billion. Westinghouse has been significantly involved in building U.S. and overseas nuclear reactors, with the most recent domestic reactors completed at the Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant.
NextEra Energy and Google have reached an agreement to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa which closed in 2020. Under the deal, the Duane Arnold Energy Center is scheduled to resume operations in early 2029, with the restart backed by a 25-year agreement for Google to buy electricity from the 615-megawatt power plant. This agreement follows a similar announcement between Constellation Energy and Microsoft to restart a shuttered reactor at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant. This is part of a growing interest from big technology companies in nuclear energy powering artificial intelligence and data centers.
South Carolina state utility Santee Cooper’s board agreed to start six weeks of negotiations with Brookfield Asset Management that could potentially lead to a deal for the resumption of the VC Summer nuclear power plant construction project. The VC Summer Nuclear Power Plant expansion project began in 2013 but was abandoned in 2017 due to cost overruns and charges that executives lied to regulators, shareholders, and investigators regarding the project.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to approve President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Ho Nieh, along with four new board members for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The committee also voted to advance the Nuclear REFUEL Act to the Senate floor which would smooth the regulatory pathway for recycling used nuclear fuel and clarify the licensing regime for nuclear used fuel recycling facilities. President Trump nominated Nieh to serve as an NRC commissioner for the remainder of former commissioner Christopher Hanson’s term, which will last until 2029.
Framatome and TerraPower have produced metallic pucks of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) at Framatome’s nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Richland, Washington. The company said the process, technologies, and expertise to produce metal from depleted uranium can be used with uranium at the higher enrichment level required to power TerraPower’s advanced reactor design. TerraPower’s Natrium technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system, and the company broke ground on the first Natrium project last year at Kemmerer, Wyoming.
Aalo has completed its Preliminary Design Review with independent reviewers from the Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its Aalo-X advanced reactor. Presentations covered Aalo’s plans to build and safely operate the experimental reactor, with reviewers providing feedback to Aalo on where it can improve its operations to exceed regulatory requirements. The Aalo-X reactor was recently selected to participate in the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, with the company aiming to complete construction and achieve criticality by July 2026.
President Donald Trump has nominated nuclear industry veteran Douglas Weaver to an open seat on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Trump administration has sent his nomination to the Environment and Public Works congressional panel, which will vet Weaver before sending his confirmation to the Senate for final approval. Weaver spent two decades working at the NRC before working for companies such as Westinghouse Electric.
The Illinois General Assembly passed a clean energy bill that would lift a 30-year moratorium on new nuclear energy in the state. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act would lift the ban on new large-scale nuclear reactors starting in January 2026 and now heads to Governor J.B. Pritzker for his signature. Illinois currently operates 11 nuclear reactors across six power plant sites, and Governor Pritzker previously signed a bill in 2023 that lifted the moratorium on building advanced reactors and small modular reactors (SMR) in the state.
Constellation stated it is exploring the construction of 2 gigawatts of new nuclear power units at its Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland. The plans for the Calvert Cliffs center include 20-year life extensions for the two units at the power plant, with Constellation adding that it can invest in uprates to increase the two pressurized water reactors’ capacity. Calvert Cliffs is currently Maryland’s nuclear power plant, but it produces about 40% of Maryland’s total power generation.
The New York Power Authority issued its first solicitation as part of a new initiative to develop 1 gigawatt of advanced nuclear energy in the state. The solicitations include a Request for Information (RFI) to Upstate New York communities interested in hosting an advanced nuclear project developed by the Authority and another RFI seeking information from potential development partners with experience in developing and operating nuclear power plants. This initiative is in line with Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent call for the New York Power Authority to develop at least 1 gigawatt of advanced nuclear capacity.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and JobsOhio announced the $100 million Energy Opportunity Initiative to support projects in natural gas and nuclear power over the next five years. The fund will offer grants and loans to help businesses manage the high costs of building and maintaining this energy infrastructure and will also help these companies recruit, train, and retain workers. Ohio currently operates two nuclear power plants at Perry and Davis-Besse, as well as being home to Centrus’ high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production facility in Piketon.
Fusion energy developer Helion Energy has been granted a Conditional Use Permit by Chelan County in Washington state, clearing the way for permitting and building the fusion generator building of its Orion fusion power plant. Helion added it was granted the permit for construction of a High Impact Utility Facility following the county’s decision. Helion began construction of buildings to support the Orion fusion plant in July of this year, which the plant expected to be online by 2028.
Energy Northwest selected a joint venture of Aecon, Kiewit Nuclear Solutions, and Black & Veatch to design and build the first phase of the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility in Washington state. Energy Northwest added that it is in negotiations with the joint venture to collaboratively complete the planning, design, and construction of four Xe-100 advanced small modular reactors (SMR) under a progressive design-build (PDB) model. Energy Northwest announced a multi-year agreement with Amazon a year ago focused on the comprehensive analyst for the Cascade SMR project.
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The Canada Growth Fund and the Building Ontario Fund will invest a total of C$3 billion ($2.1 billion) and take minority stakes in the Darlington New Nuclear Project in a move designed to de-risk the construction and operation of small modular reactors (SMR) at the site. Canada Growth Fund will have a 15% stake in the Darlington power plant and attract additional private capital for the project, while the Building Ontario Fund will acquire a 7.5% stake. The Province of Ontario previously announced its final decision to give the green light for construction of up to 4 BWRX-300 small modular reactors at the Darlington site.
Terrestrial Energy announced it has signed a manufacturing and supply contract with Westinghouse subsidiary Springfields Fuels for the design and construction of an Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) fuel pilot plant. The agreement serves as a significant advancement of Terrestrial Energy’s fuel supply chain capabilities and builds on a previous contract in 2023, with construction of the pilot plant set to begin in 2025. Terrestrial’s IMSR plant uses next-generation molten salt reactor technology and will be fueled with Standard Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (SALEU).
The Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Ontario will work together to explore small modular reactor (SMR) technology as a clean energy option. According to the memorandum of understanding, the two provinces will share knowledge and expertise on SMR development, raise public awareness on the economic and environmental benefits of SMRs, and collaborate with additional provinces and territories to accelerate SMR deployment nationwide. Nova Scotia is currently open to adopting nuclear power while Ontario has two operational nuclear power plants.
NANO Nuclear announced it plans to apply for a site-preparation license to Canadian regulators for a demonstration micro-modular reactor after its acquisition of Global First Power. As a result of this acquisition, NANO Nuclear now directly owns the company’s regulatory licensing application with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), which allows it to continue advancing towards submission of the License to Prepare Site (LTPS) application and deploy numerous micro-modular reactors at its power plant sites.
Westinghouse and Energy Alberta have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to evaluate the deployment of an AP1000 reactor in Alberta’s Peace River region, marking a step toward establishing Western Canada’s first nuclear power plant. The agreement includes joint technical and commercial assessments and engagement with Indigenous communities. The initiative follows Energy Alberta’s April submission of an initial project description for the Peace River Nuclear Power Project, which proposes up to four reactors generating 4,800 MWe, about a quarter of Alberta’s current power supply.
| | There are no new updates for this region. | | |
Nuclear Energy Expansion Opposition and Opportunities
The National Interest, November 4
From Renaissance to Reality: Infrastructure for a Global Nuclear Fuel Cycle
American Nuclear Society, November 4
Reimagining US Energy Independence: How States Can Harness Advanced Nuclear Power
Deloitte, November 4
Did Trump Just Pick a Nuclear ‘National Champion’?
E&E News, November 4
Rick Perry’s Nuclear Ambitions Begin with Gas Power
The Wall Street Journal, November 4
Has Trump Created a Big Nuclear Opportunity for India?
India Today, November 3
Trump Doubles Down on Nuclear Tests. His Energy Secretary Differs.
The New York Times, November 3
Data Centers, Trump Spark U.S. Nuclear Revival
Real Clear Energy, November 2
Advanced Nuclear Reactors Will Secure U.S. Military Energy Resilience
The Hill, November 1
How Britain Got Investors to Line Up for Nuclear Power
The New York Times, November 1
Can U.S. Nuclear Heavyweights Catch Russia and China? Trump Bets On It.
E&E News, October 31
Nuclear Story: How The Public Falls In and Out of Loving A Fuel
Forbes, October 31
Trump’s Big Nuclear Reactor Push Raises Safety Concerns
Reuters, October 31
The Risky Movement to Make America Nuclear Again
Bloomberg, October 30
Republican Socialism Goes Nuclear: Trump Bets $80 Billion on Government-Backed Energy
Reason, October 29
Agreement on Abandoned VC Summer Nuclear Reactor Sets New Course for SC Energy
The Post and Courier, October 28
Google-NextEra, Santee Cooper Announcements Signal New Life for Defunct Nuclear Projects
Utility Dive, October 28
How Putin Stole a Nuclear Power Plant (And Got Away With It)
TIME, October 23
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News items and summaries compiled by:
Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security
Mackenzie Hansen, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security
Gabriela Zanko, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security
| | For twenty-five years the Partnership for Global Security (PGS) has developed actionable responses to global security challenges by engaging international, private sector, and multidisciplinary expert partners to assess policy needs, identify effective strategies, and drive demonstrable results.
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