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Greetings!
In this week’s newsletter, we feature a commentary by PGS President Ken Luongo based on a recent National Interest article that discusses policy consideration applicable to the renewed interest in nuclear fuel reprocessing. We spotlight a report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace that argues against U.S. policymakers and industry actors prioritizing rapid nuclear energy deployment at the expense of crucial longer-term factors that could determine the industry’s success. 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.
| | Reframing Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Policy | | |
A longer version of this article was published by the Center for the National Interest and it can be found here.
For decades, a third rail of US nuclear power policy has been reprocessing spent fuel and extracting the plutonium. The country has alternately supported and suspended reprocessing over the past decades, and now the pendulum seems to be swinging back in favor of it as the Trump administration seems intent on sweeping the taboo away. But it needs to think carefully about how that policy transition is achieved and what is gained and lost in the process.
The Policy Is Porous
While the United States has sought to stop reprocessing overseas for security reasons, it has supported its use and experimentation in limited circumstances at home and winked at allies’ activities.
France, Russia, and India continue to operate reprocessing plants, while Japan has a facility that is not operating because of technical and political challenges. China has a plant under construction. Since 1978, the U.S. has provided advance consent to Japan to reprocess spent nuclear fuel of US origin.
Under a Joint Fuel Cycle Study program with South Korea, an offshoot of traditional reprocessing, known as pyroprocessing, has been used in experiments on the separation of irradiated light water reactor fuels. At an August 2025 US-South Korea summit, agreement was reached to further discuss nuclear fuel reprocessing as part of bilateral cooperation.
Domestically, the U.S. is using pyroprocessing to treat spent fuel from the now-closed Experimental Breeder Reactor-II at Idaho National Laboratory. And the Biden administration provided tens of millions for reprocessing technology research, development, and demonstration projects by national laboratories and advanced reactor companies, including TerraPower and Oklo.
Policy Tension and Technology
The nonproliferation imperatives that undergirded U.S. opposition to reprocessing are now facing new challenges as nuclear power has emerged as an important technology in strengthening global energy security, winning the geopolitical battle with China and Russia, and supporting global carbon emission reductions.
Supporting American nuclear competitiveness is a central tenet of the Trump administration’s nuclear executive orders. But it will now have to assess policy priorities that traditionally have not been in conflict but may be in competition now.
Plutonium and Proliferation
Nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism concerns have been the dominant factor in assessing the national security danger of reprocessing.
An estimated 560 metric tons of plutonium has been separated, with 140 tons of this amount available for weapons and the remainder in storage ostensibly for civil purposes. American experiments have concluded that “reactor grade” plutonium (less pure than weapons grade) can be weapons usable. The largest stockpiles are held by Russia, the United States, and France.
The IAEA assesses that only 8 kilograms of plutonium are needed for a crude nuclear device. So, U.S. policymakers will have to continue to take seriously the nuclear weapons usability of separated plutonium when considering loosening the reins on reprocessing.
Pyroprocessing Ambiguity
Using the traditional method of aqueous spent fuel reprocessing produces a very pure stream of plutonium suitable for nuclear weapons. Pyroprocessing has been proffered as a less proliferation-prone technology. It uses an electrometallurgical processing technique that leaves the fissile materials adulterated with irradiated nuclear waste products.
The controversy is whether the pyroprocessing technique makes the resulting material more “proliferation resistant” than traditional aqueous reprocessing. The Trump administration seems to have accepted the argument that pyroprocessing is less proliferation prone. However, there is a persuasive counter argument that while it may be marginally more proliferation resistant, nuclear weapons concerns emerge if further processing is done.
Reprocessing Intentions
The goal of engaging in reprocessing is important. The concern has been about the intent of foreign nations. But the renewed interest in reprocessing is being driven by U.S. advanced reactor companies as part of their competitiveness strategy.
These companies acknowledge the importance of preventing nuclear proliferation and support safeguards and security. There has been no statement of interest from them in using plutonium for anything other than reactor fuel. And so far, there’s no intent to build reprocessing plants outside the U.S.
It is too soon to tell if the emerging reactor market will require a competitive boost from reprocessing spent fuel. The plants are expensive, and the reactors are years away from demonstration or deployment. U.S. policymakers will need to identify a clear and compelling competitive advantage before over committing to reprocessing.
Power of American Precedent
The resurrection of spent fuel reprocessing in any form by the U.S. will raise concerns that it will set the wrong precedent and signal the acceptability of the technology to other nations. This argument has limits.
The U.S.’ influence on other nations has been linked to its role as an international nuclear supplier and past market domination deeply declined beginning in the 1980s. It seems unlikely that the Trump administration will prioritize the perceived value of precedent over concrete competitive advantage. But it is an issue worth watching in a volatile international environment where priorities can quickly pivot.
Geopolitics and Economics
The geopolitical competition around expanded nuclear deployment is intensifying. There are clear political and security dangers in allowing Russia and China to dominate the nuclear market of the 21st century. But non-aligned and developing economy nations that seek nuclear energy may not care much about the advantages offered by democratic-nation nuclear suppliers when Russia and China are offering significant financial package advantages.
One of the major omissions of the voluminous Trump nuclear policy executive orders was a plan for financing the nuclear build-out at home and abroad. Devoting government financing to spent fuel reprocessing expansion could limit the funds available to support American nuclear competitiveness, impacting the ability to win essential emerging markets.
| | Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security | | | | |
Spotlight
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory published a report on the results of workshops that focused on the emerging nuclear energy ecosystem. The report raises concerns about over focusing on short term issues that can accelerate nuclear energy deployment and advocates for a broader and longer-term strategy for nuclear energy deployment. Government and industry actors are enthusiastic about nuclear power and are looking to expedite nuclear facility deployment by focusing on near-term challenges. However, the Carnegie Endowment report argues that only prioritizing upfront requirements for deployment will not guarantee a significant expansion of nuclear power in the United States and abroad.
The report states that nuclear energy is an atypical investment that requires a longer-term focus on the requirements for durable and sustainable deployment, characterized by high capital intensity, technical and regulatory complexity, and intergenerational obligations. Some of the main issues highlighted in the report include the impact of technology selection on deployment scenarios and waste management, the potential misuse or diversion of technology and materials to nuclear weapons efforts, and the importance of building public support through authentic engagement with the general public and host communities.
| | Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security | | Issues of Special Interest | | Global AI and Data Center Energy | | |
The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has issued requests for proposals (RFP) for companies to build artificial intelligence and data centers at the Savannah River Site and the Oak Ridge Reservation. The NNSA is seeking applications which integrate advanced nuclear energy generation and storage projects with data centers at both sites. Savannah River and Oak Ridge were two of the four locations previously selected by the Department of Energy to invite private sector partners to develop data center and energy generation projects on federal land.
Swedish companies Blykalla, Studsvik, and Evroc have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the development of Sweden’s first nuclear-powered data centers at Studsvik’s licensed site in Nyköping. The MoU sets out the framework for collaboration between the three companies to assess the commercial and technical viability of co-locating data centers and small modular reactors (SMR) at Studsvik’s site, as well as to define what a future commercial power purchase agreement structure would look like. As Sweden’s government is seeking to expand the country’s nuclear energy sector, Blykalla is currently developing its SEALER advanced reactor.
Fermi America signed two letters of intent with Siemens Energy to add natural gas generation equipment and expand nuclear power collaboration for its planned AI campus in Amarillo, Texas. The second of these agreements outlines collaboration on nuclear energy, with Siemens providing its steam turbine and generator technology for an expected four Westinghouse AP1000 reactors. Fermi leaders say that the Amarillo HyperGrid campus will serve as a flagship example of how combining advanced gas generation and nuclear power can meet the soaring energy needs from AI and data centers.
| | The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine on International Nuclear Affairs | | |
Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to strike the cooling tower of its Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant with a drone on October 7th. Rosenergoatom released a statement explaining that no damage or injuries had been reported from the incident as the drone was "suppressed by technical means", and the plant continues to safely operate. Ukraine has not issued a statement on the incident at the time the report was produced. Rosenergoatom described the incident as "another act of aggression by the Ukrainian armed forces against Russian nuclear power plants".
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi issued another statement on the situation in Ukraine. He reiterated many of the points from his previous statements, highlighting that the nuclear security and safety of nuclear power plants in Ukraine continues to deteriorate as evidenced most recently by the loss of power at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The plant has continued to rely on emergency diesel generators for almost two weeks now, prompting Grossi to again call for maximum restraint in military operations near nuclear facilities.
The IAEA announced that power was restored to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s New Safe Confinement (NSC) after 16 hours offline. According to the IAEA, the NSC is now running on the electricity provided by two emergency diesel generators. The Chernobyl Power Plant lost connection to the Slavutych substation after being damaged, prompting the IAEA to once again emphasize the risks the ongoing military conflict poses to Ukraine’s nuclear safety.
| | Global Nuclear Developments, Geopolitics, & Governance | | GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) and Samsung C&T have formed a strategic alliance to advance the deployment of BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMR) in strategic markets outside North America, as well as working on the potential deployment of five BWRX-300 units in Sweden. The alliance also will prioritize the development of the supply chain for the BWRX-300 and project delivery solutions. The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled SMR that has already been earmarked for potential construction projects in numerous countries. | | |
According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy, Russia remained the top supplier of nuclear reactor fuel to the United States last year despite the ban on Russian enriched uranium imports. Although Russia’s share of U.S. enriched uranium imports fell from 27% in 2023 to 20% in 2024, it was still the largest provider of enriched uranium. The United States passed an official ban on Russian reactor fuel imports in 2024, although it allows the Energy Department to issue waivers to companies through 2028 if no alternative source is available or if the imports are determined to be of national interest.
Russia held the World Atomic Week International Forum in Moscow hosting over 20,000 people from more than 100 countries. During the event, Rosatom and Uzbekistan’s Directorate for the Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant State Enterprise signed an agreement to expand construction plans for the new nuclear plant in Uzbekistan. The original agreement had specified up to six small modular reactors (SMRs) and the supplemental agreement added two VVER-1000 units and two 55 MW SMRs to the list.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will launch the world’s first nuclear energy system with a closed fuel cycle by 2030 at the Atomic Week Forum. He emphasized that 95% of the spent fuel can be consumed in the reactor. He noted that nuclear safety and non-proliferation remain priorities and that nuclear energy can serve the rapid growth of data centers and global zero-carbon energy needs.
Russia continues to make progress on the construction of the BREST-OD-300 lead-cooled fast neutron reactor, a component of Rosatom’s Proryv (Breakthrough) project to facilitate a closed nuclear fuel cycle. Most recently, the seventh roofing truss was installed marking the end of the roofing truss installation process for the turbine hall and the metal shell for the central cavity. With this step completed, turbine room equipment can be installed, and the turbine unit can be assembled.
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China General Nuclear (CGN) completed cold functional testing at Unit 2 of the San’ao Nuclear Power Plant in Zhejiang Province, one of six planned Hualong One reactors at the site. The unit is now progressing toward hot functional tests before initial fuel loading. San’ao 1 and 2 are slated to begin supplying electricity in 2026 and 2027, respectively. The San’ao project is notable as the first in China’s Yangtze River Delta to use the Hualong One design and the first to include private investment.
China’s State Power Investment Corporation has begun excavation of the foundation pit for Unit 2 at the Bailong Nuclear Power Plant in Guangxi Province. The project’s Phase I includes two CAP1000 reactors, China’s localized version of the Westinghouse AP1000, approved by the State Council in August 2024. With a total investment of approximately CNY 40 billion ($5.6 billion), construction of both units is expected to take 56 months.
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The British government has opened a public consultation on the Nuclear Industry Association’s (NIA) application for regulatory justification of Rolls-Royce SMR’s reactor design. The NIA applied for a justification decision to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) last year as a required early step for the operation of a new nuclear technology in the United Kingdom. The British government recently selected Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred technology for the country’s first small modular reactor (SMR) project.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Türkiye is considering working with the United States or South Korea on its next nuclear power plant projects. Bayraktar and Turkish President Recep Erdogan previously stated the country would cooperate with the United States for both small modular reactor (SMR) and conventional plant development after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Türkiye is currently building the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant with assistance from Russian nuclear agency Rosatom, and it is also planning to build two new power plants in Sinop and Eastern Thrace.
U.S. advanced nuclear technology company Oklo and Swedish small modular reactor (SMR) developer Blykalla announced a strategic partnership that’s focused on technology collaboration, supply-chain coordination, and regulatory knowledge-sharing. The two companies will share insights on materials, fuel fabrication, and licensing best practices in order to reduce costs and schedule risks for future projects. Blykalla is developing the 55 MWe SEALER lead-cooled SMR, and Oklo is developing its 75 MWe Aurora powerhouse reactor.
The Swedish government has appointed a special investigator to propose how financial compensation from the state would be paid if nuclear power is phased out in Sweden due to future political decisions. The investigator will submit proposals on the right to compensation in the event that political decisions lead to the decommissioning of a nuclear reactor. The goal is to reduce investor risks and encourage more investments in Sweden’s nuclear energy industry. Sweden’s current government is looking to expand the country’s nuclear energy sector with a roadmap envisaging the construction of up to 10 new large-scale reactors by 2045.
Italy’s Council of Ministers has approved a bill that delegates responsibility for the re-introduction of nuclear energy in the country. The bill enables the Italian government to regulate the introduction of nuclear power by developing a National Program for Sustainable Power, establishes an independent Nuclear Safety Authority, and strengthens scientific and industrial research in nuclear energy. Italy formerly operated four nuclear power plants but closed its last two operating plants in 1990. However, the current Italian government has sought to reintroduce nuclear power.
Poland, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia have adopted a joint declaration supporting the expansion of nuclear power at the Nordic-Baltic Nuclear Investment Summit in Stockholm. The ministers emphasized that nuclear projects require cooperation such as sharing knowledge, resources, and technological expertise among member states. Sweden and Finland have recently sought to expand their nuclear energy sectors while Poland is making progress in building its first nuclear power plant at Lubiatowo-Kopalino.
Germany’s Cabinet approved the federal government’s action plan aimed at accelerating commercial nuclear fusion deployment in Germany. The Fusion Action Plan implements a flagship measure of the High-Tech Agenda Germany in nuclear fusion, identifying eight fields of actions and measures that should be addressed in order to realize the deployment and operation of a nuclear power plant. More than €2 billion ($2.3 billion) will be invested in fusion research and the development of new research infrastructure and pilot projects by 2029.
The Czech Republic has formally sought approval for European Commission funding for the second new unit at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant. As part of this notification, the European Commission will assess the compliance of the proposed support with the rules established by the European Union. The Czech Republic currently operates two nuclear power plants that have two reactors each, and the European Commission previously approved the country’s financing plan for another additional unit at Dukovany.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov announced that they’re considering the potential installation of GE Vernova small modular reactors (SMR) after holding talks with GE Vernova Chief Corporate Officer Roger Martella. Zhelyazkov stated that this builds on a memorandum of understanding signed with GE Vernova last year that will explore the development of a BWRX-300 SMR project in Bulgaria. Bulgaria currently operates the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, and Bulgaria previously signed an engineering contract with the United States for two additional units at the plant.
Romanian nuclear company Nuclearelectrica signed an agreement with Arabelle Solutions relating to the refurbishment of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 and another with Framatome for its medical radioisotopes project. Arabelle Solutions will provide equipment and services for the refurbishment of Cernavoda 1’s turbine-generator while the agreement with Framatome will work on the production of lutetium-177 radioisotopes. Cernavoda is currently Romania’s only operating nuclear power plant, with the Unit 1 refurbishment project beginning back in 2017.
Unit 1 of the Tihange Nuclear Power Plant in Belgium has been taken offline for the final time and disconnected from the grid after 50 years of operation. Its closure is in line with Belgium’s nuclear phase-out policy which began back in 2003 and has led to the decommissioning of three other reactors since. However, Electrabel repealed the 2003 bill this year in response to growing energy insecurity, and it is now negotiating the feasibility and terms for the operation of Tihange 3 and Doel 4 for a further ten years.
Slovakia has signed an agreement with the United States for the construction of a new unit at its Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant. The unit will be state owned with an output of more than 1,000 MW. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico spoke about the project at the European Nuclear Energy Forum, highlighting the need for the European Union to support more nuclear energy development to ensure energy security for the region. In his speech, Fico also made sure to highlight Slovakia’s growing role in the nuclear field, pointing to the collaboration between Slovakia’s JAVYS and Newcleo on lead-cooled small modular reactors.
The Netherlands has begun construction of its new Pallas research reactor in Petten. The Pallas reactor is meant to replace the High Flux Reactor (HFR), which produces 60% of Europe’s medical radioactive sources. NRG-Pallas CEO Maurits Wolleswinkel explained that the Pallas reactor will ensure security of the supply of these radioactive sources and prevent Europe from becoming dependent on other countries. The reactor will be a "tank-in-pool" design with a thermal power of 55 MW.
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The Philippine Department of Energy has released a comprehensive framework that grants the country's first nuclear power plant priority dispatch, long-term contracting options, and incentives to accelerate the integration of nuclear energy into the power mix. These steps establish the foundation for the Philippines first operational nuclear power plant that is currently designated as the Pioneer Nuclear Power Plant. The Philippines built the Bataan-1 reactor but has never operated it. Former President Rodrigo Duterte outlined the country’s plans to adopt nuclear energy back in 2022.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) awarded British nuclear services company Cavendish Nuclear and U.S. company Amentum the next phase of work to support the decommissioning of the Monju Prototype Fast Reactor in Japan. Additionally, the companies formed a joint venture, Alkali Metal Processing, which will construct and commission a new facility in the United Kingdom that will treat the sodium coolant removed from the Monju reactor. This award builds on a previous contract awarded in 2023 that focused on the design and engineering phase of the British project.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the four-unit Banswara Nuclear Power Plant in Rajasthan, one of several central and state government energy projects. India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) gave its consent for the siting of these reactors near the village of Napla. The Maha Banswara Project will comprise four 700 MWe pressurized heavy water reactors designed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), which is part of India’s initiative to build ten identical 700 MWe reactors across the country.
During the World Atomic Week International Forum in Moscow, Rosatom signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vietnam Electricity Corporation to cooperate on the Ninh Thuan-1 NPP project. The MoU will allow for more cooperation on various tasks such as the feasibility study, site planning, developing infrastructure, and training specialists. Vietnam suspended its previous plans to build nuclear power plants in 2016 but has recently revived its interest in introducing nuclear energy in the future.
The joint owners of Nurlikum Mining have updated the structure of their joint venture that will pave the way for the start of development at the South Djengeldi uranium project in Uzbekistan. French company Orano and Uzbek uranium company Navoiyuran will each hold a 45% stake in the South Djengeldi project, while Japanese company ITOCHU will hold the remaining 10% stake in the project. The South Djengeldi uranium deposit is expected to have an annual uranium production of 500 tons of uranium that will provide stable production for 10 years.
| | An international tribunal ruled in favor of Orano concerning sales of uranium from the Somaïr mine in Niger, settling a longstanding dispute stemming from arbitration proceedings following the 2023 coup d'état. The decision reinforces Orano’s rights to those uranium sales under existing agreements. The Somaïr uranium mine has been under the control of Niger’s government since December 2024 when it nationalized the mine and ended Orano’s uranium mining and commercial operations. | | Following the reinstatement of U.N. sanctions by Britain, France, and Germany, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Cairo Agreement governing cooperation with the IAEA is no longer relevant. The decision effectively suspends the short-lived inspection framework that had been agreed upon last month after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran accused the IAEA of “double standards” for failing to condemn those attacks and warned that Western pressure has undermined prospects for renewed negotiations. | | Nucleoélectrica Argentina reported that it has completed 44% of the life extension work on the Atucha I nuclear power unit, which is currently in its first year of shutdown. The nuclear agency added that significant progress has been made in modernizing the essential systems under the ongoing refurbishment program that began last year and is expected to last for 30 months. The Atucha I is one of three operational nuclear reactors in Argentina along with the Atucha II and Embalse reactors. | | North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy | | |
The Department of Energy has selected four companies for its pilot program to build out advanced nuclear fuel lines: Oklo, Terrestrial Energy, TRISO-X, and Valar Atomics. The projects will leverage the Department’s authorization process to ensure a robust supply of advanced nuclear fuel is available for research, development, and demonstration purposes. This is the second round of conditional selections under the DoE’s Fuel Line Pilot Program, with the Department previously selecting Standard Nuclear to build and operate tri-structural isotopic (TRISO) fuel fabrication facilities.
The Energy Information Agency (EIA) published a report warning that U.S. nuclear utilities face possible uranium shortages over the next decade. As a result of fewer uranium delivery projects being signed due to surging prices, the uranium supply gap is expected to widen over the next decade to a combined 184 million pounds, which is equivalent to more than 3 years of consumption. In the absence of more long-term supply deals, the EIA report suggests that more utilities may need to forge shorter-term arrangements in order to keep reactors properly fueled and operational.
Global Nuclear Fuel announced the first lead use assemblies of the next-generation GNF4 boiling water reactor fuel have been contracted for deployment in 2026 with full reload quantities for 2030. The company says the GNF4 fuel builds on GNF3 and features advanced components such as Ziron cladding and aluminosilicate-doped uranium dioxide pellets, and it will be manufactured at the GNF manufacturing facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. Global Nuclear Fuel is a joint venture between GE Vernova and Hitachi.
Standard Nuclear and French nuclear company Framatome announced a joint venture to commercially produce tristructural isotropic (TRIS) fuel by 2027. The venture plans to produce two metric tons of TRISO fuel annually, which would be a dramatic increase in output from current lab-scale levels. The announcement comes as the Department of Energy added four companies to its Reactor Fuel Line Pilot Program that aims to produce the TRISO fuel needed to test U.S. advanced nuclear reactors.
Urenco USA has received authorization from U.S. regulators to produce uranium enriched up to 10%, known as low-enriched uranium+ (LEU+), and says it will be the first commercial uranium enricher to produce this fuel. Initial production will take place later this year, with the first product deliveries to a fuel fabricator planned for 2026. Urenco’s enrichment facility in New Mexico is currently the only operational commercial enrichment plant in the United States.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a proposal to divert plutonium from the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile to fuel the new generation of power plants. According to an anonymous Department of Energy official, the proposal calls for the Department to alter the plutonium so it can be used by civilian power companies, including startups that are pitching advanced reactor designs. In response to this report, government watchdogs and congressional Democrats opposed this proposal, stating that it raises serious national security and nuclear proliferation concerns.
The state of Arkansas is formally engaging with consultancy firm Excel Services Corporation to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on the development of new nuclear energy generation in the state. The study comprises an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power, as well as addressing optimal siting, safety protocols, and advanced technology options. Arkansas is currently home to two pressurized water reactors at the Arkansas Nuclear One power plant.
Duke Energy has added light-water reactor technology to its long-range resource plan, targeting a potential 2037 in-service date for new nuclear generation either from small modular reactors (SMR) at Belews Creek or a large reactor at its W.S. Lee site. The new version builds on the previous plan from 2023 as Duke Energy is developing an early site permit application for SMRs at the Belews Creek site. Duke Energy currently operates the largest regulated fleet in the United States, with 11 reactors generating 10,819 MWe.
Texas energy company Vistra has secured a long-term deal with an unnamed buyer to supply power from its Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant. The utility said in a regulatory filing that it has signed a 20-year deal to supply 1,200 megawatts of power from Comanche Peak. Vistra expects the power delivery to start in the fourth quarter of 2027 and for the power delivery to be at full capacity by 2032.
U.S. fusion system developer Pacific Fusion has chosen a site near Albuquerque, New Mexico, for its first Research and Manufacturing Campus. Pacific Fusion plans on launching its manufacturing operations before the end of the year, and facility construction is set to begin in 2026. The Campus will house the company’s Demonstration System, designed to deliver 100-fold higher facility gain than the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and aims to achieve net facility gain by 2030.
Advanced nuclear technology company Oklo carried out full-scale flow testing of a prototypical fuel assembly at the Argonne National Laboratory. The testing has generated experimental data to demonstrate the manufacturing parameters and advance Oklo’s fuel assembly design towards production. Oklo is currently developing its Aurora powerhouse reactor, and the testing was conducted under a voucher Oklo received from the Department of Energy’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licenses of units 1 and 2 at the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant, clearing the way for an 80-year operating life for the two reactors. NextEra Energy Point Beach submitted its application for a subsequent license renewal for the plant in 2020, and the renewed licenses allows for the reactors to operate until 2050 and 2053 respectively. The first Point Beach unit originally entered operation in 1970, with unit 2 starting operations three years later.
Nuclear energy technology company NANO Nuclear Energy announced it will invest more than $12 million to establish a manufacturing and research and development facility in Illinois. NANO is receiving $6.8 million in financial support from the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois incentive program as the Illinois state government is increasing its investments in clean energy and advanced nuclear manufacturing. NANO will work with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on developing the KRONOS micro-modular reactor system.
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Calgary-based start-up Nucleon Energy and ARC Clean Technology Canada have established a new partnership that will focus on the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMR). The partnership is called NuARC and will leverage Nucleon’s site locations in key areas in Canada and ARC’s advanced reactor designs which can support electricity demand growth, industrial heat requirements, and produce medical isotopes. Nucleon and ARC had previously signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the potential deployment of ARC’s reactor technology at combined heat and power generation sites in Alberta and Texas.
X-energy Canada conducted a study that confirms the feasibility and benefits of repurposing an existing thermal generation site in Alberta with its small modular reactors (SMR). Funded by Emissions Reduction Alberta through the Alberta Government’s TIER fund, the study also establishes the foundation for further planning and regulatory engagement to support the future deployment of the Xe-100 SMR. X-energy has been active in developing the Xe-100, with its first proposed plant set to be located at Dow’s Seadrift site in Texas.
Canadian uranium provider Cameco reported a September spot price of $82.63 per pound, the year’s peak, driven by strong demand and reduced supply. Sprott Physical Uranium Trust bought 2.3 million pounds in the third quarter of 2025, while Yellow Cake raised $125 million for new purchases. The World Nuclear Association forecasts uranium demand could more than double by 2040 as nations expand nuclear power for energy security and decarbonization.
| | There are no new updates for this region. | | |
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The Imperative of Building Upon US-UK Cooperation Through Allied Partnerships
The National Interest, October 5
Inside the Uranium Plant At the Center of U.S. Plans to Expand Nuclear Power
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Deeper US-Korea Nuclear Ties Will Pave a Strategic Path to Global Leadership
The National Interest, October 4
The US-South Korea Nuclear Partnership: A Strategic Response to Global Energy Challenges
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A Modern US Nuclear Energy Policy
The National Interest, October 3
How Seoul Can Help Make the US Nuclear Energy Renaissance Come True
The National Interest, October 3
Making DOE’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program Work
The Breakthrough Institute, October 2
The Race for Nuclear Energy Dominance – And How America Can Win
The National Interest, October 2
The Race to Scale Global Nuclear Energy
The National Interest, October 2
The Future of Energy Is Subatomic
Power Mag, October 2
Nuclear Power Startups Are Starting to Look Like a Bubble
Semafor, October 2
Small Modular Reactors Are Gatorade for the AI Race
The Washington Examiner, October 2
The Department of War Has the Power to Advance the American Nuclear Industry
The National Interest, October 1
DOE’s Reactor Pilot: A Turning Point for US Nuclear Energy?
Utility Dive, October 1
The Role of International Cooperation in Advancing U.S. Nuclear Energy
The National Interest, September 30
Can Small Nuclear Reactors Help Power the AI Boom and Fight Climate Change?
Bloomberg, September 29
AI Needs Power. Nuclear Energy Delivers.
The Washington Times, September 29
The Nuclear Option: The Future of American Energy Dominance
The Washington Times, September 29
If China Beats the US on Fusion Energy, Its Supremacy Will Be Assured
ABC News, September 28
DOE Is Ready to Move on Uranium. It Might Not Be Enough.
E&E News, September 26
Where Should Britain Hide Its Nuclear Waste?
The Economist, September 25
Big Beautiful Bill Encourages Nuclear, But Regulations Still Don’t
Energy Intelligence, September 25
The New Nuclear Age: Why the World Is Rethinking Atomic Power
Goldman Sachs, September 25
Everyone Is Talking (Again!) About a Coming Revival in Nuclear Power
Wood Mackenzie, September 25
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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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