Greetings!

In this week’s issue, we analyze the recent eight-reactor agreement between the United States and South Korea in the context of the four pillars of U.S.-Korean civil nuclear cooperation. We spotlight the recent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rule that sets parameters for how companies can use information from Department of Energy and Department of Defense-authorized reactor activities in their commercial nuclear license applications. 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 our Della Ratta Energy and Global Security Fellow, Paul Tervo.

This Commentary contains an excerpt from an article that was published by The Center for the National Interest. It can be found here.

The U.S. and South Korea have engaged in civil nuclear cooperation for over 70 years and that partnership, while it has had its rough patches in recent years, has been productive for both sides. But these two nations are now entering into a new phase of cooperation in an evolving and more dynamic international nuclear environment. This raises questions about how the relationship will develop, particularly around sensitive fuel cycle activities and cooperation on reactor construction in the U.S.

There are four pillars upon which U.S.-Korean nuclear cooperation rests.

The most enduring foundation is the 123 agreement that governs the peaceful nuclear cooperation between the two nations. The most contentious issues under this agreement in recent years have been related to the fuel cycle. Decades of U.S. policy was designed to prevent uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing by South Korea. But at a November 2025 bilateral summit, the U.S. agreed to support a process that “will lead” to Korea’s ability to enrich uranium and reprocess spent fuel for peaceful purposes. This decision creates a challenging new dimension of the bilateral cooperative nuclear relationship, and its boundaries are not yet clear.

Another core of the cooperation is the mutual dependency Korea and America have on building one another’s hallmark reactors, the KEPCO APR-1400 and the Westinghouse AP-1000. The competition for market share between these reactors has led to commercial conflict, but neither reactor can be built without the involvement of both Korean and American nuclear suppliers. This supply chain interrelationship has been demonstrated in other locations, including the United Arab Emirates, and its next phase will be on display into the 2030s as Westinghouse builds AP-1000s in Poland and Korea builds the APR-1400 in the Czech Republic.

The third pillar of cooperation is in the emerging area of small modular reactors (SMRs). Korea has its own SMR, but Korean companies have signed agreements with several American SMR developers including Terra Power, NuScale Power, X-energy, Holtec, Nano Nuclear Energy, and with the Canadian company, ARC Clean Technology. The U.S. and Korea, along with Japan, established a framework for cooperation on accelerating SMR deployments in the Indo-Pacific region. As the small reactor category matures, the level of cooperation or competition between the two countries will become more apparent.

The fourth area of cooperation is the opening of the U.S. nuclear market to Korean reactors and companies. The ADVANCE Act of 2024 updated U.S. restrictions on foreign ownership of U.S. nuclear plants. In September 2026, the Commerce Department made a high-profile announcement that South Korea will provide $120 billion for the construction of eight nuclear power plants in the U.S. Six will be Westinghouse AP-1000’s and two Korean APR-1400s. But this new agreement could be the weakest element of the bilateral cooperation because there are many unanswered questions about how it will be implemented.

Eight Reactor Deal

The eight-reactor Korea deal is in the ballpark of meeting the Trump administration’s goal of building 10 new AP-1000s in the U.S. as a May 2025 executive order demands. But it is very unlikely that any of these will be under construction by 2030, as the administration desires, because there is significant uncertainty about how the package will be funded, where the reactors will be sited, and whether the American political system is ready for Korean control of reactors on U.S. soil.

Financing. The Korean commitment to this project has its roots in the Trump administration’s trade agreement that swapped tariff reduction for investment in American industries. If the current administration is gone before any significant advances under the agreement are made, it is unclear if the next president will make the same demands for Korean investment or if Korean officials will feel bound by this agreement. The U.S. government already has committed to finance $17.5 billion in loans for the purchase of AP-1000 long lead items to facilitate construction of the ten reactors the administration wants. And it previously created a strategic partnership with Westinghouse to provide $80 billion for the construction of those ten AP-1000s. But there is uncertainty about how the Korean and American funds will be applied. And some Korean components like safety and process control panels and steam generators can require over five years of lead time. The Korean government reportedly plans to conduct a commercial viability assessment and limit its financing commitment to $15 billion per reactor.

Sites are not Public. While the general locations for these reactors are to be on federal land in Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Kentucky, the sites were not named. It has been speculated that the former Department of Energy (DoE) nuclear sites in Paducah, KY and Piketon, OH are targets. The Tennessee location could be on territory managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, and perhaps the South Carolina site will be Savannah River. But there is no confirmation of these guesses and site assessment is a long and challenging process, complicated further by the need to provide assurance to a foreign partner.

Terms are Uncertain. The Commerce Department fact sheet on the deal notes that “The parties will develop and announce individual projects separately as sites, schedules, and commercial terms are finalized.” This process could take years to complete and likely will extend well beyond the current administration. This deal is specifically linked to the Trump administration’s tariff agreement with South Korea, and the terms of that trade pact may change after the 2028 presidential election.

Politics are Problematic. It will be politically controversial to build Korean APR-1400 reactors over AP-1000s in the U.S. The sites will be on federal property, and the Trump executive orders were explicit about nuclear growth supporting American technology. There is a presumption that Korean firms will provide the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) for all the reactors and this makes sense based on past performance. But that could generate tension. It could make construction more efficient and cost effective. But it will create opposition if it fails to create American jobs, another stated Trump priority. There also is no commitment by U.S. utilities to participate in this deal, raising questions about how the energy created by these reactors will be used.

Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security

Spotlight

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a new rule that allows applicants to leverage information from Department of Energy or Department of Defense-authorized reactors that have been tested and demonstrated the ability to function safely. This includes reactors that have been a part of DoE’ Reactor Pilot Project and its follow-on the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, and DoD’s Pele and Janus programs. The primary goals of the rule is to reduce duplicative technical reviews, licensing costs, and deployment timelines.

In support of the rule, the NRC also released a staff white paper outlining a framework for determining how prior DoE safety evaluations, technical findings, and demonstration experience may support subsequent licensing. While these developments establish a connection between reactor deployment under DoE and DoD authorizations and applications for commercial deployment under NRC authorization, it is still unclear is how much regulatory credit the NRC will give to prior federal authorizations, safety evaluations, and testing. In its accompanying response to comments, the NRC expressly declined to establish a presumption prior DoE or DoE findings should be accepted in subsequent licensing in lieu of standard safety standards.

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Issues of Special Interest

Global AI and Data Center Energy

Germany’s PreussenElektra and technology company NVIDIA have agreed to explore whether PreussenElektra’s former nuclear power plant sites are suitable for the construction of AI factories. The goal of this collaboration is to align existing energy and site infrastructure with technical and operational requirements of high-performance AI data centers, with NVIDIA evaluating the requirements for AI factories and potential technical site concepts. PreussenElektra is responsible for the decommissioning of Germany’s nuclear power plants, but Germany is now considering the adoption of nuclear fusion technology.

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

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, in the IAEA’s annual report to the U.N. General Assembly, expressed concern about Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

Global

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated that he expects the use of nuclear power could more than triple by 2060, with demand driven by electrification, data centers, and the rising demand for carbon-free power. In the IAEA’s annual report to the U.N. General Assembly, Grossi added that more than 60 new reactors are under construction globally, thus dramatically increasing the projections for future nuclear capacity. Grossi additionally expressed concern regarding Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs.

Russia

The starboard reactor unit on Russia’s Chukotka nuclear-powered icebreaker has been brought to minimum controlled power level. The Chukotka icebreaker features two RITM-200 reactors that will have a service life of 40 years. Once both units have had their physical start-up, there will be a series of tests of the nuclear power plant on the vessel. The icebreaker is the fifth of Russia’s Project 22220 vessels being built at its United Shipbuilding Corporation Baltic Shipyard. A modified version of the RITM-200 is the reactor Russia is manufacturing for its floating small modular reactor (SMR) plants.

China

Several Chinese companies are expanding their use of nuclear energy to residential heating and industrial steam supply. This includes the first phase of Shandong Nuclear Power’s heating project and China National Nuclear Power’s industrial nuclear steam supply project at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station. These projects will help China’s chemical industry pursue decarbonization and also boost the export competitiveness of China’s chemical products.

Europe

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and SGE SMR UK signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture for the future operation of a planned fleet of 14 BWRX-300 SMR in the United Kingdom. The proposed joint venture will see SGE SMR UK and OPG subsidiary Origin Network work to establish a nuclear operating company that will support the licensing process, commissioning, and operational readiness of the BWRX-300 units. Earlier this year, SGE outlined plans for the deployment of 14 BWRX-300 SMRs across three sites in the UK.

The British Ports Association and Lloyd’s Register published a joint paper arguing that ports should begin to structure planning for advanced nuclear technology now and treat it as a long-term infrastructure and operating-model question rather than a new marine fuel. The report is intended as a briefing for port leaders, harbor authorities, terminal operators, and policymakers. Potential applications include nuclear-powered ships, floating and transportable nuclear power units, and land-based small modular reactors (SMR) to power port operations.

South Korea announced progress on the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant project in the Czech Republic and voiced its concerns about the potential impact that the European Union’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act might have on non-member countries participating in the European Union’s nuclear power market. Korean Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan urged the Czech Republic to continue its diplomatic efforts within the EU to ensure the act does not hinder bilateral cooperation. In addition to the Dukovany project, South Korea is also collaborating with the Czech Republic for two new units at the Temelín power plant.

According to two sources familiar with the Paks Nuclear Power Plant expansion project, Hungary is considering replacing Russian agency Rosatom with alternative suppliers as part of its review. One source stated that all scenarios were on the table when asked whether Hungary would consider changing its main contractor for the project. The Paks expansion project is Rosatom’s most prominent nuclear project in the European Union, but Russia’s strained relationship with the EU and a new incoming government in Hungary could impact the power plant’s expansion.

The Finnish government has granted a license to radioactive waste management company Posiva to operate the encapsulation and final disposal facility for used nuclear fuel at Olkiluoto. The license allows the company to possess, process, store, and dispose up to 6,500 uranium tons (tU) of used nuclear fuel, as well as permit the final disposal of certain other radioactive waste and nuclear materials. The facility will be the world’s first repository for used nuclear fuel to be granted a license and will be used to store the used nuclear fuel generated by the Olkiluoto and Loviisa nuclear power plants.

Tractebel and Technopolis Group conducted a joint study determining that the Dutch port of Rotterdam could become part of the Netherlands’ future small modular reactor (SMR) supply chain. The study assessed the potential of Rotterdam and its industrial ecosystem within an SMR supply chain, finding that it combines a large industrial ecosystem with extensive logistics capabilities, maritime expertise and strong connections to Europe. The Dutch government has been seeking to receive and expand the country’s nuclear power sector in recent years.

Westinghouse will carry out a Front-End Engineering and Design study for the potential deployment of an AP1000 at the Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant in Slovakia. The six-month study will advance engineering, licensing, and project planning activities which will be funded by a grant from the U.S. State Department’s FIRST Program. Slovakia currently has five nuclear reactors at the Bohunice and Mochovce Nuclear Power Plants, and they generate more than half of the country’s electricity.

Slovakia has connected Mochovce unit 4, its newest nuclear reactor, to the grid. The reactor was turned on at 20 percent capacity and will be gradually ramped up to full capacity over time. When unit 4 reaches full capacity, it will make Slovakia the country that generates the greatest proportion of its electricity from nuclear power (over 60% of electricity production) and the country is weighing weighs further nuclear power expansion.

TÜPRAŞ, Turkey’s largest oil refiner, has partnered with the United States Trade and Development Agency to explore deploying SMRs to provide heat, electricity, and steam for its refining process. The joint study will evaluate different U.S. SMR options and, if appropriate, develop a roadmap for deployment. The agreement follows a separate contract between USTDA and Turkey’s recently established national nuclear company, under which USTDA would support the country’s development of government institutions focused on SMRs.

Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation has created a milestone-based fusion program to support companies developing fusion technology. Like the U.S. Department of Energy’s similarly named program, the German government will disburse funds to companies based on achievements leading up to deployment of a demonstration fusion power plant. Despite the country’s aversion to nuclear fission power, Germany is home to many fusion startups, most notably Proxima Fusion.

Ukraine has begun the process of joining the OECD’s Nuclear Energy Agency. Pending a review by NEA’s Steering Committee of the country’s nuclear sector and governing framework, this development, when complete, will allow Ukraine to draw from the agency’s nuclear expertise and potentially obtain full OECD membership in the future. NEA currently has 34 members, mainly in Europe.

Asia & The Pacific

The Southeast Asian nations of ASEAN announced they are taking a pragmatic look at nuclear power while meeting at the World Nuclear Supply Chain conference in Manila, the Philippines. In the face of another global energy crisis, energy analyst Yinglong Teng stated that nuclear power could add about 30 gigawatts of the region’s new energy capacity if all national targets are met. Currently, countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia are considering the deployment of nuclear power within the next decade.

South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering signed memoranda of understanding with U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) developers Nano Nuclear Energy and ARC Clean Technology. Through the agreement signed with Nano Nuclear, it will cooperate on developing the KRONOS MMR first-unit project underway at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The agreement with ARC will see Hyundai Engineering assist with ARC’s sodium-cooled demonstration fast reactor being built at the Idaho National Laboratory.

South Korea hosted an IAEA ministerial conference, and its science ministry stated that the country is seeking to turn its reactor manufacturing and construction prowess into a global production base for nuclear power. Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon also pledged to develop small modular reactors (SMR) domestically and shore up public trust. South Korea aims to commercialize SMRs by 2035 and recently passed an SMR special act.

South Korea’s Nuclear Safety & Security Commission (NSSC) has decided to extend the operational life of Kori Nuclear Power Plant units 3 and 4 for an additional 10 years. The decision came after the commission approved the accident management program for the two nuclear reactors. Kori units 3 and 4 had previously stopped power generation after 40 years of commercial use, and they will now be able to operate until 2034 and 2035 respectively.

Russian nuclear power company Rosatom announced that the initial fuel load for Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant’s second unit has been delivered after being produced at Russia’s Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant. Nuclear fuel was loaded into Rooppur unit 1 earlier this year, with that unit reaching its minimum controllable power level earlier this month. The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility and is being built in collaboration with Rosatom.

The Philippines is working to establish the policy, regulator, and commercial foundations for its first nuclear power project with a target of 1.2 gigawatts of capacity by 2032. It has a longer-term ambition to reach 4.8 gigawatts by 2050. Speaking at the World Nuclear Supply Chain conference in Manila, the government stated that it is working to translate the country’s nuclear ambitions into an implementable project and will place nuclear power as part of its broader generation strategy.

Russian nuclear agency Rosatom plans to launch construction of two 1,000-megawatt units in Uzbekistan in 2027. Two SMRs are already under construction at the Jizzakh site, where the first concrete for the foundation slab was poured in May of this year. Russia and Uzbekistan signed a contract in 2024 to construct the country’s first nuclear power plant featuring six RITM-200N units, and Rosatom added that engineering survey and design refinements are currently underway for the new large-scale units.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has accelerated a study on nuclear energy adoption and has set a target to launch Thailand’s first commercial small modular reactor (SMR) by 2037. The agency has commenced a pre-feasibility study to evaluate prospective technologies and potential construction sites. EGAT official Nateekul Kriangchaiporn added that Thailand plans to install more SMRs afterwards and aims to generate 9,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity by 2050.

Indonesian company PT Pembangkit Listrik Nuklir has signed an agreement with Russian nuclear agency Rosatom to supply electricity generated by floating nuclear power reactors for the Indonesian island of Halmahera. Two of Rosatom’s FPU-100 floating nuclear power plant units will be deployed, and Rosatom says it expects them to be supplying electricity to consumers within five years. Rosatom has already deployed and operates the world’s only floating nuclear power plant, the Akademik Lomonosov.

Africa

ASP Isotopes and South African state nuclear company Nesca formed a joint venture to produce high-assay low enriched uranium. The companies have not released details about timeline, cost, or capacity, but they have announced that the venture will produce both a test plant and a commercial-scale production facility at South Africa’s Pelindaba site. The joint venture has already secured offtake agreements for the produced HALEU with TerraPower, further developing an agreement between TerraPower and ASP Isotopes initially signed in 2024.

Togo has signed an MoU with Rosatom to explore opportunities for nuclear power deployment in the country. Aside from power reactor deployment, the MoU also covers non-power applications and workforce development. The partnership follows assertions by Togo’s president in recent months that the country would pursue nuclear power, as well as the establishment of ties with international nuclear-focused groups.

The IAEA confirmed Kenya’s commitment to safe nuclear waste practices through a nine-day Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (ARTEMIS) mission. The mission saw the IAEA review the waste management elements of Kenya’s nascent nuclear power program compared to international standards, finding considerable progress in its development. The review comes as Kenya prepares to stand up its first research reactor, having recently tasked NuPEA with overseeing its construction and operation.

Uranium mining companies Aura and Deep Yellow announced updates on their planned investment in mines in Mauritania and Namibia, respectively. On the one hand, Aura announced plans to make a final investment decision this year on its Tiris project in Mauritania; on the other hand, Deep Yellow delayed its final decision, which had been planned for this quarter, on its Tumas project in Namibia. Despite their differing decisions, both companies cited the strong uranium market as a positive factor in their discussions.

Bannerman Energy and China National Nuclear Corporation have issued a positive final investment decision allowing construction to begin at Namibia’s Etango uranium mine. Full-scale commissioning and production at the mine, which is estimated to hold nearly 80,000 tons of uranium, is targeted for 2028. When complete, the Etango mine will increase Namibia’s already high portion of the global nuclear supply.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that Ethiopia’s next chapter of energy development will include the adoption of nuclear power while speaking with the Ethiopian Nuclear Energy Commission. Ahmed added that Ethiopia plans to build two 1200 megawatts-electrical (MWe) reactors within the next decade, with three potential sites identified as potential locations for the first power plant. Ethiopia established the Nuclear Energy Commission last year and has been discussing potential nuclear projects with Russia.

The Middle East

Russia and Iran are expanding their cooperation in nuclear energy through new reactors at the Bushehr Power Plant and a planned $25 billion project at Sirik. Russia helped Iran build the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant that began commercial operation in 2011 and has continued work at the site despite ongoing military strikes in the country from the United States and Israel. Russia and Iran’s nuclear cooperation comes amid restrictions on IAEA inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

IAEA Director Rafael Grossi reported to the UN Security Council that the IAEA has not detected any attempt by Iran to rebuild nuclear facilities damaged by the United States and Israel. He further reiterated the IAEA’s request that Iran allow inspections across its nuclear sites and asserted that the agency had completed its technical assessments of Iran’s capabilities. Grossi’s statements come as the United States and Israel threaten further attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.

The IAEA confirmed that the United Arab Emirates’ response to a drone strike in May on the country’s Barakah nuclear power plant was effective in maintaining reactor safety. The IAEA further asserted that lessons learned in emergency management would inform continuous improvements. At the time of the strike in May, the UAE told the IAEA that radiation levels had remained normal and later requested a full IAEA review itself.

France and Bahrain have signed an agreement on cooperation on civilian nuclear power. The agreement particularly focuses on training initiatives that would allow Bahrain to develop the necessary expertise. Bahrain previously signed a similar agreement with the United States in July 2025.

South & Central America

There are no new updates for this region.

North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy

United States

The Department of Energy has offered Constellation Energy a conditional loan of up to $5 billion to finance nuclear power uprates and modernization at eight power plants in Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The proposed investments could add nearly 1.1 gigawatts of generating capacity to the United States’ existing nuclear fleet. This commitment marks DoE’s second major nuclear uprate financing offer this month and is poised to advance the Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort (UPRISE).

The Nuclear Company has announced plans for Prosperity One, a proposed nuclear energy campus in Kentucky that could accommodate up to six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors. The development would become the largest nuclear power campus in the United States, and the target is for construction on the project to begin in 2028. The project will be a phased development, starting with initial assessment activities and the deployment of two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors.

Westinghouse Electric announced an approximately $1 billion investment to build an advanced nuclear fuel factory at its Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in South Carolina. The facility would lead the way for the facility to produce low-enriched uranium plus (LEU+) fuel, with construction on the new factory underway and on track to begin operations in 2030. The fuel is meant to enable the effective long-term operation of Westinghouse’s current fleet and support the industrialization of the company’s advanced AP1000 reactor units worldwide.

American Electric Power (AEP), Amazon, and X-energy are exploring the development of a 960-megawatt advanced nuclear project at a former coal plant site in Indiana. If the project gets built and enters commercial operations, Amazon will purchase the plant’s power under a long-term contract that covers the costs of the facility and its operations for the duration of the arrangement. The facility would have 12 of X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactors (SMR). Indiana Governor Mike Braun wants to position his state as a national leader in advanced nuclear energy.

The U.S. Navy has selected Radiant’s Kaleidos microreactor for deployment at the Naval Weapons Station Crane in Indiana. The project will now advance through design refinement, prototype testing, site preparation, and regulatory coordination before deployment. Radiant’s Kaleidos is a factory-built transportable microreactor, and Radiant is already partnering with the U.S. Army and Air Force in their microreactor deployment programs.

Nuclear energy company Elementl Power is receiving backing from South Korean venture capital firm DS Investment Partners and Samsung C&T as part of its goal to raise $750 million. The DS Investment Partners consortium pledged as much as $200 million to develop up to three of Elementl’s nuclear projects, and Samsung C&T is in talks to provide engineering support. Elementl Power is currently working to deploy GE Hitachi’s small modular reactors (SMR) at a nuclear power plant site in Ohio.

Holtec International announced the successful recovery of a tilted fuel assembly from the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, overcoming an obstacle to the power plant’s planned restart. The facility’s restart operations were temporarily disrupted in August after a fuel bundle unexpectedly tilted at a 30-degree angle inside one of the reactors, but the company used a specially designed Fuel Movement Device to recover the bundle. The Palisades Power Plant is set to become the first shuttered nuclear plant to resume operations in the United States.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement for Global Laser Enrichment’s (GLE) Paducah Laser Enrichment Plant, recommending that a construction and operation license be issued for the plant. GLE submitted its Environmental Report for the facility in 2024, and the Final Safety Evaluation Report is expected by the end of the year. Silex Systems CEO Michael Goldsworthy stated that the license for the Paducah facility is expected to be finalized early next year and allow for the GLE to produce LEU+ fuel with assays up to 8% enrichment.

Leaders and planners from the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning met with U.S. Army officials and Radiant Industries to discuss the progress of the Janus Program microreactor deployment at the site and potential future reactor sites. Fort Benning is scheduled to receive three next-generation nuclear microreactors, and Radiant will provide, install, and operate the systems. The visit concluded with a physical assessment of one potential location for additional microreactors.

Canada

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney announced that AtkinsRealis is a contender to supply Turkey’s second nuclear power plant at Sinop. This assertion adds the Canadian company to the list of competing potential contractors for the project, which already includes companies from South Korea, Russia, China, and Japan. The Turkish government is expected to select a supplier by the end of the year. Zooming out, Turkish and Canadian officials signed a deal to cooperate on energy projects, including nuclear reactor deployment.

Mexico

There are no new updates for this region.

New Research

Nuclear Energy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

International Atomic Energy Agency, October 20

4 Workforce Trends in Nuclear Energy in 2026

U.S. Department of Energy, October 20

Op-Eds & Articles

An American Nuclear Submarine Is Dropping Anchor in Australia

The National Interest, October 27

The Nuclear Option America Actually Needs

The Washington Post, October 27

Approving the US-Saudi Nuclear Deal While Reducing Proliferation Risks

Brookings Institution, October 26

To Win Its Nuclear Future, America Must Look to Its Past

The National Interest, October 22

Inside the U.S. Push to Put Nuclear Reactors in Ports and on Cargo Ships

Wall Street Journal, October 22

Nuclear Power Now Has Bipartisan Support

Reason, October 21

Nuclear Recycling Needs New Technology, Not Government Subsidies

The National Interest, October 20

South Korea Builds Reactors Fast; Licensing Slows Them Down

Neutron Bytes, October 20

Can China Turn Its Small Modular Reactor Ambitions into Commercial Reality?

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, October 20

Tech Companies Drive Nuclear Power Plant Expansions, More Electricity

Real Clear Energy, October 19

South Carolina’s Nuclear Industry Isn’t Just Growing, It’s Powering Our Next Economy

The Post and Courier, October 18

Unlocking ASEAN’s Nuclear Potential – A Case for Regulatory Convergence on SMRs

World Nuclear News, October 16

Institutional, Not Neutronic: Why Advanced Reactors Actually Get Built, or Don’t

Neutron Bytes, October 15

Why Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Is Recycling in Name Only

The National Interest, October 14

News items and summaries compiled by:

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Paul Tervo, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security