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Greetings!
In this week’s newsletter, we examine whether the critics of nuclear energy’s expansion, particularly SMRs, are on the right or wrong track. We spotlight an article from Hogan Lovells that examines the legal authority for the Departments of Energy and Defense to regulate nuclear power plant projects without direct approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 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.
| | Are Nuclear Energy Expansion Critics Correct? | | |
A longer version of this article will be published soon by The Center for the National Interest and it can be found here.
In the sea of enthusiasm for the global expansion of commercial nuclear power, there are modern day Nostradamus’ confidently predicting failure.
“Most SMRs are on paper […] These are fun ideas. But the tech bros don’t seem to be grounded in reality” prophesized a Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairperson in a recent BBC interview.
On social media, a noted nuclear power critic predicted, “you must know that none of this is actually going to happen” when referring to new nuclear microreactors “that are doomed to fail.”
It is very possible that these criticisms will be proven correct. As the critics note, there are lots of MOU’s and paper reactors, but not much groundbreaking.
But a review of key issues indicates that while small reactors face some real headwinds, and some reactor designs may face more challenges than others, the volume and depth of the political, financial, and technological commitment to their success could push them forward to commercialization.
AI Energy Expansion
The Trump administration is dead set on winning the AI race with China and nuclear energy is a serious contender for powering U.S. AI data centers.
Today the U.S. has 522 data centers, about half of the world’s total. Another 280 are expected to come online by 2028. This would jump energy demand in this sector from 2% of total U.S. electricity to 12%.
The U.S. is currently adding only about 65 gigawatts to the grid but an ICF International analysis states it, “should be adding about 80 gigawatts of new power generation capacity a year to keep pace with AI as well as cloud computing, crypto, industrial demand, and electrification trends.”
Other SMR Applications
The critics believe that the challenges of achieving commercialization will sink small reactors through the trifecta of concerns about reactor cost effectiveness, licensing ability, and delivery certainty.
But AI is not the only application for small reactors. There are industrial applications and disaggregated grid uses that exist in developed and developing countries.
Canada already has approved the construction of four 300 MW General Electric Hitachi BWRX reactors at the Darlington nuclear plant. If licensed, these would become the first commercial SMRs operating in North America.
Financing
The Trump administration has revamped the Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office into the Energy Dominance Financing Program (EDF), and it seems prepared to provide tens of billions of dollars in nuclear project loans. U.S. government financing will likely mitigate some of the risks private investors will face.
The administration’s decision to identify federal land for nuclear plant construction is also a significant step. Some small reactor companies have already set up on national laboratory territory.
Fuel Supply
Access HALEU and plutonium nuclear fuel is a major bottleneck for small reactors. Both the Biden and Trump administrations made revitalizing U.S. nuclear fuel production a priority and have devoted billions to uranium enrichment and millions to plutonium reprocessing and fuel use.
Nuclear critics have cited security problems associated with the use of HALEU and weapon-grade plutonium. For now, there is a push forward on multiple nuclear fuel fronts, but it is not certain that they will succeed in substantially opening the reactor fuel bottleneck.
SMR Export Markets
Small reactors have significant applicability as an export technology, particularly to developing economy nations with growing populations and energy demand. But negotiating and approving agreements for nuclear cooperation with these nations is a slow process.
What is missing is the ability to target countries and apply the full scope of technical and financial resources needed to capture the market for the U.S. Clearpath, has developed the concept of Energy Security Compacts (ESC) that propose five-to-ten-year agreements with nations to build their capacity. This concept would strengthen the U.S. against the state-financed companies of Russia and China and open overseas markets.
Military Reactors
U.S. Department of Defense has made a major commitment to the development of small reactors through Project Pele and the Janus Program. And turning emerging technologies into usable products is a key DoD talent.
The PELE reactor is a 1.5-megawatt TRISO-fueled, gas-cooled demonstration micro reactor that is designed to provide the U.S. military with “a mobile, reliable, sustainable, and resilient power source which does not require a long logistics tail.”
The Janus project was launched in October 2025 and is designed to be a 1-20 megawatt reactor that provides power for national defense facilities and critical missions. The Janus reactors will be commercially owned and operated and could provide power to the local grid.
| | Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security | | | | |
Spotlight
Law firm Hogan Lovells published a comprehensive article discussing the legal authority granted to the Departments of Defense and Energy to regulate nuclear reactors they build. The article examines the recent executive orders issued by the Trump administration that are aimed at incentivizing these agencies to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors and how this raises crucial jurisdictional and statutory issues. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is responsible for licensing all civilian nuclear reactors under the Atomic Energy Act (AEA). However, that statute contains carve-outs that grant DoD and DoE limited authority to construct and operate reactors for specific purposes that could include advanced reactor demonstration projects and initiatives aimed at energy resilience. While the authorities allow these departments to pursue nuclear reactor deployment outside of NRC control, there are key differences between DoD and DoE, with the energy department’s latitude more limited.
| | Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security | | Issues of Special Interest | | Global AI and Data Center Energy | | |
Amazon announced plans for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility adjacent to Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station in Washington state. The facility is a 320-megawatt small modular reactor (SMR) complex that will serve as the first major project in Amazon’s nuclear partnership with advanced reactor company X-energy. Amazon added that development will initially be focused on a four-unit Xe-100 reactor pack before expanding the Richland site to include 12 reactors. Construction is expected to begin by the end of the decade, with operations targeted to start in the 2030s.
Google DeepMind is partnering with nuclear fusion startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) to deploy nuclear fusion technology to power artificial intelligence. CFS plans to use DeepMind’s software, known as TORAX, to help optimize its SPARC fusion reactor before it’s fully turned on in early 2027. The companies will also test how TORAX could help with the operation of the SPARC reactor and other future fusion reactors. The partnership formalizes joint work the two companies have embarked on in the past four years, including Google’s decision to buy 200 megawatts of energy from CFS.
| | The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine on International Nuclear Affairs | | |
In the latest update on the situation in the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated that repairs are expected to start soon to restore off-site power to the plant. The IAEA team conducted a walkdown of the plant, noting that the emergency diesel generators (EDGs) were operational, no increase in temperature had been observed for the spent fuel, and all radiation levels were normal. On October 23rd, the Dniprovska 750 kV power line was fully repaired, restoring the power plant’s external power supply after being offline for a month.
Shortly after Grossi’s latest update, he announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a local ceasefire to allow for needed repairs to the plant’s off-site power lines. According to unauthorized reports by European and Russian diplomats, the IAEA has proposed restoration of power to take place in two phases. The first phase would involve repairs to the Dniprovska 750-kilovolt line (in Russian controlled territory), while the second would involve repairs to the Ferosplavna-1 330-kilovolt backup line (in Ukrainian territory).
Ukraine’s energy and housing committee presented a draft law that will provide a legal framework for the deployment of small modular reactors. The law would allow privately financed SMRs to select operators directly and simplify licensing procedures and also provide a foundation for cooperation with international partners. Anatoliy Kostyukh, head of the subcommittee on nuclear energy and nuclear safety, explained that the law will not only provide the regulatory conditions needed to deploy SMRs, but will also help Ukraine to rebuild energy infrastructure destroyed during the war and strengthen Ukraine’s integration with the EU energy market.
| | Global Nuclear Developments, Geopolitics, & Governance | | The IAEA released a draft safety report on the Generic RoadMap project that highlights the important role of capacity building in sustaining national nuclear safety infrastructure. The report outlines numerous priorities and associated tasks for nuclear newcomer countries to undertake within the typical timeline from planning to operation. The Generic RoadMap was launched in 2020 with the goal of supporting nuclear newcomer countries in developing nuclear safety infrastructure. | | |
Russian nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor issued the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant a 25-year license for its dry storage facility. The plant has been under Russian military control since March 2022, with its current operator stating that all licenses issued by the Ukrainian regulatory authority prior to 2022 remain valid until Russia issues its own relevant licenses. The plant has been shut down since 2022, and Ukraine continues to advocate for the return of the plant to Ukrainian control to ensure that safety and security standards are met.
Senior Russian officials met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to discuss the expansion of cooperation between the two countries across various sectors, including nuclear technology. The meeting follows the signing of an action plan between Rosatom and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation in September 2025 to build Ethiopia’s first nuclear power plant. Increased collaboration between the two states also comes at a time when Ethiopia is looking for backing to become a member of the World Trade Organization, with Russian Minister of Economic Development Maksim Reshetnikov stating his support for the bid.
Construction continues on Leningrad II, the new phase of Russia’s Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, which is meant to replace units from the 1970s phase of the plant. The outer containment is currently being built for the third VVER-1200 unit. Construction of the containment infrastructure involves building a steel cage that is then filled with concrete. The Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant is one of Russia’s largest and an integral component of its energy grid, supplying 30% of electricity in northwest Russia.
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China National Nuclear Corporation has begun loading 177 fuel assemblies into the core of Unit 2 at the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian Province. The move follows the Ministry of Ecology and Environment’s issuance of an operating license on 11 October 2025, marking the start of commissioning with nuclear material. As one of four Hualong One (HPR1000) reactors planned for the site, Zhangzhou 2 is scheduled to begin commercial operation in late 2025. Two additional Hualong One units are under construction as Phase II of the project, with a total of six units planned at the plant.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has completed cold functional testing at the ACP100 small modular reactor (Linglong One) demonstration project at the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant. The milestone verified the integrity and leak-tightness of the reactor’s primary circuit and confirmed proper installation of key safety systems. The 125 MWe pressurized water reactor is China’s first SMR to pass an IAEA safety review, and is now preparing for hot functional tests, fuel loading, and eventual commercial operation.
Shanghai Electric delivered the world’s largest toroidal field magnet coil box to the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) in Hefei, marking a major milestone in China’s fusion energy program. The 400-ton component is made of ultra-low-temperature austenitic steel and serves as the primary structural support for superconducting magnets in the facility’s fusion systems. The achievement strengthens China’s high-end manufacturing capabilities and supports the establishment of a full industrial supply chain for fusion devices.
China National Nuclear Corporation has completed civil construction of the main nuclear island for Unit 3 at the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant, marking a major milestone for the CAP1000 reactor project. The final concreting of the containment water tank’s CB-20 module was finished on 20 October, following the installation of the 419-ton tank earlier in August. Haiyang 3 and 4 are part of China’s broader CAP1000 expansion program approved in 2022, with both units scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2027.
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Project company Sizewell C has signed multi-year fuel contracts with Urenco and Framatome for the provision of enriched uranium services and nuclear fuel fabrication for the Sizewell C nuclear power station in England. The supply contract with Urenco for enriched uranium services will support the first six years of Sizewell C’s operation and the fuel fabrication agreement with Framatome is for the first fuel cores and a number of subsequent fuel reloads. The Sizewell C nuclear station will consist of two French-supplier EPR units, each with a net capacity of 1,630 megawatts.
Gauss Fusion announced it will hand over Europe’s first fusion power plant design to Germany’s chancellery, with Gauss scheduled to present its design at a climate congress hosted by Germany’s BDI industry federation. Gauss Fusion’s next design phase is set to start after the review of the Conceptual Design Report (CDR) by an independent panel in January 2026. Germany’s government recently unveiled a €2 billion ($2.33 billion) Fusion Action Plan as it aims to adopt an industry-led approach for deploying nuclear fusion energy.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a Declaration of Intent to Establish Long-Term Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Energy. Macron stated that he wanted to give Slovenia the opportunity to produce numerous nuclear power plant components such as turbines and solutions for the disposal of radioactive waste. Slovenia’s JEK2 Nuclear Power Plant project is for one or two reactors that will be adjacent to the existing Krško Nuclear Power Plant, with Électricité de France (EDF) and Westinghouse being the two companies in consideration to build the units.
French advanced reactor developer Newcleo awarded an engineering services contract to its joint venture company with Nextchem: NEXT-N. Newcleo will develop the nuclear reactor for its LFR-AS-200 technology while Nextchem will leverage its expertise to enable NEXT-N to deliver the basic design, procure the critical equipment for the conventional island, and provide project management and integration services. Newcleo’s delivery roadmap sees the first non-nuclear prototype of its reactor being ready in 2026 and the first reactor becoming operational in France by 2031.
Électricité de France (EDF) stated it has raised its estimates for nuclear production for 2025 to between 365 terawatt hours (TWh) and 375 TWh. This increase in estimated nuclear production occurred due to improvements in the maintenance program, with 18 of the 33 scheduled outages this year being shorter than originally expected. While the estimates for this year have increased, the estimates for 2026 and 2027 remain unchanged at a range between 350 TWh and 370 TWh.
The Netherlands announced the extension of the lifespan of the Borssele Nuclear Power Plant, as well as an investment of €20 million to develop small modular reactors (SMR). An amendment to the Nuclear Energy Act has been put forward by the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth, which will allow Borssele's operator EPZ to apply for an extension of the lifespan of the power plant beyond the original 2033 date of termination. The two new units to be deployed by 2035 at the Borssele site will be Gen III+ reactor models, each with a capacity between 1,000 MW and 1,650 MW.
Urenco announced plans to double the expansion of uranium enrichment capacity at its Almelo site in the Netherlands. The original expansion plan announced in December 2023 was set at 750,000 separative work units (SWU), while the second stage of expansion announced will add a second centrifuge hall with an additional 750,000 SWU. Urenco Almelo’s managing director, Ad Louter, stated that the latest announcement to increase capacity for uranium enrichment at the site “demonstrates Urenco’s ongoing commitment to supporting a robust, reliable, Western nuclear fuel supply chain”.
Polish state-owned power company Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA (PGE) signed a preliminary agreement with Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) to become the sole shareholder of the special purpose vehicle responsible for the construction of Poland’s second nuclear power plant. Poland signed a letter of intent with South Korea, PGE, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) in 2022 to develop plans for a nuclear power plant in Pątnów. Poland is currently in the process of building its first nuclear power plant at Lubiatowo-Kopalino while also planning to build additional nuclear facilities afterwards.
Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre published a study on the siting of a fusion power plant in Scandinavia finding that Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland all meet the technical requirements to host a pilot fusion reactor. Conducted on behalf of Novatron Fusion Group, the study found that the Finnish city of Helsinki is the most prepared site in terms of regulatory readiness. The next phase of the project will involve detailed site-specific investigations in cooperation with interested Nordic stakeholders and industrial partners.
Spanish energy companies Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy have agreed to seek an extension of the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant’s lifespan and are working on a formal request to the Spanish Energy Ministry. Iberdrola and Endesa are the largest owners of Spain’s nuclear fleet while Naturgy also has a considerable stake in Spain’s nuclear reactors. Spain currently plans to phase out all of its nuclear reactors by 2035 with the phase-out beginning in 2027. However, a major blackout in April of this year has revived the debate over nuclear power in the country.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó announced that Hungary will begin talks on buying nuclear fuel from the United States to diversify its supply. Szijjártó stated that Hungary will need more nuclear fuel to fulfill its growing energy needs as it expands its nuclear sector, adding that it would also keep buying nuclear fuel from Russia. Hungary currently operates the Paks Nuclear Power Plant and is currently in the process of building the Paks II nuclear project with assistance from Russian nuclear agency Rosatom.
The IAEA conducted an Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission to Hungary that reviewed the country’s governmental, legal, and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety. The review team stated the special legal status of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Agency gives it a high level of independence while also praising its steps in enhancing safety culture. The IAEA also made recommendations such as documenting key regulatory processes, establishing an integrated management system, and improving the existing arrangements between relevant regulatory authorities.
The IAEA conducted its Safety Aspects of Long-Term Operation (SALTO) peer review mission at the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia. The team identified good performances that are to be shared with nuclear operators globally while also providing several recommendations for better long-term operations. Some of these recommendations include updating the existing plant programs to fully address aging management, completing the qualification program for equipment in harsh environments, and implementing the aging management programs for civil structures.
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Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, is expected to push for the acceleration deployment of nuclear power in Japan. The Japanese government is hoping that reviving the nuclear sector will bring down wholesale power prices, diversify the country’s energy generation, and reduce its reliance on nuclear fuel imports. Japan operated 54 nuclear reactors before the Fukushima power plant meltdown in 2011, with just 14 of these reactors restarting in the years since.
A panel organized by India’s Ministry of Power suggested that India should cut nuclear project timelines, secure long-term fuel supplies, and expand its reprocessing capacity. The panel stated that the current time from site approval to nuclear reactor commissioning, which is 11 to 12 years, must be reduced through faster land acquisition and regulatory clearances in addition to using existing sites and retired thermal plant locations for new nuclear projects. India is aiming to deploy 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047 and is aiming to relax existing rules in order to attract private companies and foreign suppliers for future projects.
Indian news publication The Business Standard has reported that the Indian government is seeking to extend the deployment of small modular reactors (SMR) to commercial shipping. India’s Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) is developing two SMR designs that could be used as power plants in energy-intensive industries, with an anonymous senior government official stating that they could also be used to power merchant ships. India’s Navy has already embraced nuclear propulsion with the INS Arihant and INS Arighaat submarines.
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) announced that South Korea’s SMART100 small modular reactor (SMR) design is set to become the first in the world to formally submit a Safeguards Technical Report to the IAEA. KAERI added that the IAEA emphasizes the importance of implementing safeguards considerations as early as possible in the SMR design process, with work being advanced with several IAEA member states through the Member State Support Program (MSSP). KAERI is developing the SMART100 SMR, which is an advanced version of the original SMART design.
Uzbekistan held a ceremony marking the digging of a 13-meter deep pit for the Russian-built RITM-200N small modular reactor (SMR) being built in the country. Uzatom said that 27 test and research boreholes have been drilled, with engineering surveys and design and prep works under way along with a plan for design documentation to be submitted for review by the end of the year. Uzbekistan is collaborating with Rosatom and Atomstroyexport to build its first nuclear power plant using the RITM-200N SMR, and the first concrete is expected to be poured in March of next year.
Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhadjayev is holding talks with Italian specialists and businesses about cooperation in the project to build Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant. Talks with Ansaldo Nucleare included issues of technological integration in the implementation of the nuclear power plant project, and Akhmedkhadjayev also held talks in Genoa with regional leaders and universities. Uzbekistan is currently in the process of building its first nuclear power plant which will consist of six Russian-designed RITM-200N reactor units.
| | South Africa is set to revive its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) program, aiming to bring it out of “care and maintenance” by early 2026. A revised Integrated Resource Plan envisions $128 million being invested in energy infrastructure by 2042, with nuclear and gas accounting for 16% of total generation capacity in the next 14 years compared to 3% currently. The move comes as part of the country’s forthcoming Integrated Resource Plan that envisages about 5.2 GW of new nuclear generation by 2039. | | Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant has received the 20-ton reactor support ring from Russia, with the reactor pressure vessel for unit 1 also being shipped from St. Petersburg. The support ring is a crucial component of the El Dabaa Unit 1 and will be installed in the reactor shaft before the reactor pressure vessel arrives at El Dabaa in November. The El Dabaa Power Plant is Egypt’s first nuclear power plant and is being built in a partnership with Russian nuclear energy agency Rosatom. | | China Isotope & Radiation Corporation (CIRC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazil’s National Nuclear Energy Commission to secure the stable supply of medical and industrial radioisotopes. The agreement establishes a three-year framework for technical and commercial collaboration under both countries’ regulatory systems. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) described the partnership as part of China’s broader effort to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear medicine and isotope production, supporting scientific innovation and access to life-saving materials across global markets. | | North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy | | |
The United States Army announced the launch of the Janus Program, a next-generation nuclear power program aimed at delivering energy to support national defense installations and other critical missions. The Janus Program will build on lessons learned from Project Pele and work under the guidance of the Trump administration’s recent executive order that directed the Department of War to commence operation of an Army-regulated nuclear reactor at a domestic military installation no later than September 2028. The U.S. government has been working to deploy advanced reactors at multiple military sites in the United States since 2024.
Reuters reported that the Trump Administration is offering energy companies access to plutonium that they can convert into fuel for advanced reactors. Citing a Department of Energy document, the publication reported that the government has published an application that nuclear energy groups can use to seek up to 19 megatons of the government’s weapons-grade plutonium from Cold War era warheads. Trump administration officials have previously floated the idea of using plutonium for advanced reactors, which has caused concern from nuclear policy groups and Democratic politicians over the proliferation risks this would raise.
President Donald Trump stated that the United States will go ahead with the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal, ending months of uncertainty over whether his administration would maintain the alliance with Australia and the United Kingdom. Trump gave his support for the pact at a White House meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the Pentagon previously stated it would review the deal. The AUKUS deal involves the development of nuclear-propelled submarines and naval shipbuilding facilities in Australia with the goal of confronting China’s naval operations in the South Pacific.
U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and Martin Heinrich introduced a bill aimed at advancing domestic nuclear fuel recycling research and assessing the benefits of recycling spent nuclear fuel. The Advancing Research in Nuclear Fuel Recycling Act of 2025 would direct the Department of Energy to study the benefits, costs, and risks of recycling spent nuclear fuel in comparison to interim storage solutions. Nuclear technology companies such as Curio and Oklo, and the Nuclear Energy Institute have expressed support for this bill.
U.S. civil engineering company Bechtel stated that the United States may have as many as 10 large nuclear power plants under construction within five years if Bechtel starts construction on the first one next year. Bechtel is currently evaluating its process for estimating project costs, which comprise engineering work, procurement of materials and equipment, and construction. Bechtel has been involved in designing, building, and providing services for dozens of nuclear power plants around the world, including 80% of the United States’ current nuclear fleet.
The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant received 68 assemblies of new nuclear fuel after months of technical preparation, marking the latest step toward officially reopening the power plant. The accepted batch of fuel is being stored within the Spent Fuel Building until it will be loaded into the reactor core. The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant shut down in 2022 after 40 years of operations, but operator Holtec has been working to reopen the plant since 2023. The facility is set to be the first U.S. plant to resume operations after being decommissioned.
South Carolina’s state-owned utility company, Santee Cooper, has put out a call to potential partners that want to be involved in restarting the construction of the VC Summer Nuclear Power Plant project. According to Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton, 80 interested parties have responded, with 50 of them submitting a bid for the project. Santee Cooper began construction on expanding the VC Summer Nuclear Power Plant in 2013, but the project was abandoned in 2017 due to delays and cost overruns.
The Wyoming Energy Authority has recommended a $100 million grant to support BWXT’s TRISO nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Gillette, Wyoming. The WEA will now accept public comments before Governor Mark Gordon makes a final determination about whether to approve the grant. BWXT proposes to begin construction of its $500 million TRISO nuclear fuel manufacturing facility next year, with an in-service target of 2030. The company’s pending grant would be the first to be granted under Wyoming’s Large Project Energy Matching Fund.
JPMorganChase announced it will make direct investments of up to $10 billion to address pressing needs in key sectors ranging from critical minerals to frontier technologies such as nuclear energy. Next-generation nuclear technology is identified as a sub-area under the Energy Independence and Resilience theme of the plan, with the firm adding that it will also advocate for policies that can accelerate these efforts. Some of these actions include research and development, permitting, procurement, and regulations conducive to growth. The company’s Security and Resilience Initiative’s investments will be worth $1.5 trillion overall.
Newcleo and Oklo have signed an agreement to develop advanced nuclear fuel fabrication and manufacturing infrastructure in the United States with Swedish company Blykalla also considering investing in the project. The partnership aims to strengthen the partners’ abilities to co-invest in fuel fabrication facilities, co-locating them with existing nuclear power sites, and repurposing surplus plutonium in a manner that’s consistent with established U.S. security requirements. Oklo is currently developing the sodium-cooled Aurora powerhouse reactors while Newcleo aims to use reprocessed fuel to power its small modular reactors (SMR).
Radiant Industries has decided to build its first nuclear reactor factory on a site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Radiant expects to start construction of the factory in 2026, adding that it will be on track to deliver its first Kaleidos nuclear generator by 2028 before scaling up production to 50 reactors per year. Radiant’s Kaleidos microreactor design is a transportable high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) using HALEU fuel, and Radiant is the sixth company selected by the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Fund (NEF) to locate its facility in the state.
Last Energy plans to test its pilot microreactor on a campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. The goal for the pilot program is to start powering the Texas A&M campus grid as soon as mid-2026 and then to deploy Last Energy’s first commercial unit within 2 to 3 years. Last Energy is building a 20-megawatt commercial scale plug-and-play microreactor unit which was recently selected by the Department of Energy to fast track the licensing and deployment of advanced reactors.
The Special Competitive Studies Project published a new report calling for the United States to take action in order to win the nuclear fusion race against China. Written along with Senators Maria Cantwell and Jim Risch, the report advocates for the construction of several fusion demonstration power plants and an investment of $10 billion into the nuclear fusion sector. This report comes less than a month after industry leaders told Congress that the Department of Energy needs to overhaul and finance its fusion programs to prevent China from dominating the fusion power race.
The Department of Energy released a nuclear fusion roadmap that reviews the barriers to deployment of fusion technology and provides strategies to address them. The Roadmap found six core challenge areas that include structural materials, advanced confinement approaches, fuel cycle and tritium processing, and fusion plant engineering. The Department of Energy is aiming to scale up private-sector involvement in nuclear fusion by the 2030s, with plans to commence nuclear operation of early generation power plants 5 to 10 years from now.
Deep Fission announced it has signed letters of intent with data centers, co-developers, industrial parks, and strategic partners to deploy 12.5 gigawatts of nuclear power. The letters outline plans to pursue the commercial deployment of Deep Fission’s small modular reactors (SMR). Deep Fission’s reactors will be placed one mile underground, with the company stating that its proprietary design model could reduce overall deployment costs by 70-80% compared to traditional nuclear power plants.
The Department of Energy’s Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) has selected Tokamak Energy for collaboration in accelerating the company’s core fusion energy science and technology. Under this initiative, Tokamak Energy will develop advanced high-temperature superconductors, advise on eight other FIRE projects with top American laboratories, and advance technologies such as tritium recovery and pilot plant design. FIRE is a $128 million initiative from the DoE to accelerate the deployment of nuclear fusion technology.
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Westinghouse and Energy Alberta signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on exploring the deployment of an AP1000 reactor in Alberta. Under the MoU, the companies will conduct joint technical and commercial discussions, business development efforts, and engagement. The collaboration builds upon Energy Alberta’s engagement with communities in the province as part of work underway to build a nuclear power plant in the Peace River area, with Westinghouse’s technology and experience helping new-to-nuclear jurisdictions in Canada.
The provincial government of Saskatchewan published the Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan which sets out its long-term strategy for electricity. The plan sees the government reiterate its commitment to nuclear power, such as examining the feasibility of two small modular reactor (SMR) units near Estevan. SaskPower has previously selected GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 SMR for potential deployment in the mid-2030s, and it has also signed agreements with Cameco and Westinghouse to explore the deployment of Westinghouse’s advanced reactor technology.
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How China Raced Ahead of the U.S. on Nuclear Power
The New York Times, October 22
America Must Slash Red Tape to Make Nuclear Power Great Again
The National Review, October 22
Evaluating the Pentagon’s Nuclear Pivot
The National Interest, October 20
What Future for SMRs if the AI Boom Is a Bubble?
Neutron Bytes, October 19
The US Has a New Roadmap for Fusion Energy, Without the Funds to Back It Up
The Verge, October 17
How Including Nuclear in the Loss and Damage Fund Advances US and the Global South’s Interest
The National Interest, October 16
The Real Reason Google DeepMind Is Working with a Fusion Energy Startup
Tech Crunch, October 16
The Dawn of the Trump Nuclear Renaissance
The Washington Examiner, October 16
President Trump’s Radical Attack on Radiation Safety
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, October 15
The Journey of the U.S. Fuel Cycle
American Nuclear Society, October 14
What Can the U.S. Learn from Chinese Nuclear Deployment?
The Breakthrough Institute, October 14
Pitting Nuclear Modernization Against Powering AI: Trump’s Plans for the U.S. Plutonium Stockpile
Center for Strategic & International Studies, October 14
Nuclear Hype Is Building. TVA Plans to Buy In.
WPLN News, October 14
Nuclear Naysayers Are Nothing New
Real Clear Energy, October 13
How Advanced Materials Could Unleash Fusion Energy
Chemical & Engineering News, October 10
Nuclear Exports to European Allies: A Strategic Win-Win
The Heritage Foundation, October 9
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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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