Greetings!

In this week’s issue, we offer a perspective on the proposed U.S.-Saudi Arabia nuclear cooperation agreement that identifies the need to manage new risks in pursuit of reactor exports. We spotlight the latest edition of the Nuclear Threat Initiative’s Nuclear Security Index which reports a significant decline in nuclear security conditions in both Russia and the United States. 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.

A longer version of this article was published by The Center for the National Interest and it can be found here.

If the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wants to build a nuclear power program, the reactors and related technology should be American. The alternative opens the door to Russia, or more likely China, an outcome that would undermine global security, degrade U.S. influence over the rapidly evolving global nuclear energy landscape, and offer geopolitical rivals a difficult-to-dislodge foothold in a critical country and sensitive region.

After over forty years of moribund U.S. nuclear exports, America is facing a more active, diverse, and competitive global market than the one it dominated through the 1980s, and the price for capturing it is steeper than in the past.

The U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement that now sits before Congress will open a critical nuclear market to American nuclear technology but it also contains provisions that create concerns about potential future security hazards. In this new nuclear world effective competition requires managing these risks, not avoiding them.

Reactor Competition

The U.S. has not constructed any power reactors in the Middle East, but Russia is building them in Turkey and Egypt. China has submitted a bid for the Saudi reactors. And South Korea has inked several bilateral nuclear energy agreements with Saudi Arabia.

In 2009, the U.S. and United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached a "gold standard" bilateral nuclear agreement that some suggest the U.S.-Saudi deal should mimic. But the gold standard conditions are not the norm for U.S. nuclear cooperation agreements. And the UAE reactors were awarded to South Korea, not America.

This history underscores the market opportunity competitor nations see in the region and the challenges for America to enter it.

A Litmus Test

The U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement is a litmus test for American political leaders’ commitment to the national nuclear energy resurgence that has been a bipartisan political priority for the past decade.

International nuclear market competition is intense with China and Russia having a head start and inherent advantages. Beyond the sale of Westinghouse AP-1000s to Saudi, the congressional decision on the bilateral agreement will impact control of the future nuclear market for Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and microreactors.

The U.S. government and private investors have poured billions of dollars into these new types of reactors, and because their fuel, coolant, and operation don’t conform to the existing reactor standard they will not be governed by the old rules. These small reactors are increasingly of interest to emerging economy nations, most of which possess little nuclear experience, requiring evolving nuclear cooperation agreements, technologies, and policies. The U.S. can’t lead this governance evolution from behind.

Congressional Considerations

The two issues causing controversy are uranium enrichment on Saudi territory and a U.S.-centric safeguards system that will substitute for the IAEA’s intrusive Additional Protocol.

Uranium Enrichment

Uranium enrichment is the most difficult issue for Congress because America and its allies have spent decades developing barriers to the export of sensitive dual use nuclear fuel technologies to prevent the potential production of nuclear weapons.

The U.S.-Saudi agreement seems to acknowledge the sensitivity and history of the uranium enrichment issue and seeks to provide an air gap around any potential plant, through joint assessments and ultimately U.S.-control of the facility to protect sensitive technology.

Congressional consideration of the uranium enrichment provision cannot ignore previous statements by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other high-level officials that the kingdom will seek nuclear weapons if Iran produces them. These are troubling comments that were directly linked to Iran’s escalating nuclear activities.

Iran’s program has now been dramatically degraded due to U.S. and Israeli bombing. And for the first time in 20 years, the IAEA referred Iran to the United Nations Security Council for "noncompliance" with its nonproliferation obligations. Those are major hindrances to Iran’s once torrid nuclear activities, and the Saudis should seize the high ground against their damaged rival and set a precedent for never enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.

Safeguards Substitution

The other major concern raised by the agreement is safeguards and security. The agreement requires IAEA safeguards at declared nuclear facilities in Saudi Arabia. But it does not include the Additional Protocol that allows for snap inspections at undeclared facilities.

The Additional Protocol would be supplanted by a bilateral U.S. Saudi inspection regime, and here has been criticism of this arrangement. But the reality is that the U.S. national laboratories are deep repositories of safeguards expertise and U.S. inspectors and technology are at a minimum equally capable to their international counterparts.

Further, the IAEA’s Secretary General, Raphael Grossi, has stated that while the Additional Protocol would be the “ideal setup…it has been possible to introduce a number of provisions to the bilateral agreement that will give the agency additional verification and monitoring authorizations.” These are “capacities which are very, very similar to those that you may find in an Additional Protocol.”

Global Realities

Should the agreement be approved, the U.S. will not be going it alone in Saudi Arabia. The construction of any Westinghouse AP-1000 reactor has many partners, and none more important that South Korea. Korea’s success in constructing the UAE reactors could allow its industry to play a major role in the construction of the Saudi reactors, and Korean companies will provide significant component content for the AP-1000. This arrangement could set the stage for additional joint nuclear projects as part of the $350 billion tariff agreement under which South Korea will invest in U.S. energy.

The U.S. also is sensitive to how the agreement with the Saudi’s may impact other countries in the region, with President Trump tacking on a last minute obligation that the kingdom normalize relations with Israel before the bilateral agreement can be implemented.

Overall, the U.S.-Saudi deal is the harbinger of the movement beyond past nuclear cooperation precedent. It is a response to an evolving nuclear technology and export landscape that requires effective adaptation to new risks. It is a challenge to American political leaders, and they must determine whether they want the U.S. to lead the new nuclear energy order or stay on the sidelines.

Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security

Spotlight

The Nuclear Threat Initiative published the seventh edition of its Nuclear Security Index, documenting the state of international nuclear security measures, cooperation, and potential threats. The Index revealed an alarming decline in nuclear security conditions in Russia and the United States, the two countries that possess the vast majority of the world’s weapons-usable nuclear materials. The report notes that Russia’s suspension of crucial international cooperation and production of additional weapons-usable materials are driving its score decline, while the United States’ score has been impacted by its suspension of some international cooperation and the erosion of the independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

In addition to the United States and Russia, the Index found that stockpiles of plutonium have grown in several countries due to spent fuel reprocessing operations, quantities of weapons-usable highly enriched uranium have increased, and most countries and areas with weapons-usable nuclear materials and facilities have made little progress in adopting fundamental security practices. NTI provides numerous recommendations to address these trends, including minimizing quantities of weapons-usable materials by permanently disposing of spent nuclear fuel, strengthening personnel-related security measures, and calling on countries to use the 2027 Review Conference of the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material to encourage broader ratification of the agreement.

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Issues of Special Interest

Global AI and Data Center Energy

Google will invest $15.1 billion in AI infrastructure in Finland over the next two years, including a major deal for the supply of nuclear power. Google stated that the infrastructure build-out will involve the deployment of three new data centers in Finland, as well as a 22-year purchase agreement for up to 50% of the energy output of one of the country’s nuclear plants. Finland has been less opposed to data center projects than other countries in Europe and already operates one data center.

Holtec Nuclear Corporation is postponing the initial public offering it announced in July due to the market turn against the AI data center economy. Holtec CEO Kris Singh added that the backlash to data centers has had a major factor in market sentiment against nuclear power. This recent opposition contrasts the previous enthusiasm that nuclear energy companies expressed in powering data center projects. Holtec had previously filed its Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to the proposed initial public offering (IPO) of its Class A common stock and had also announced the launch of a “roadshow” to sell 50 million shares between $15 and $18.

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

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was reconnected to external power after being disconnected for 18 days. Following the severing of a cable by military activity on August 20, the plant had been operating on its backup diesel generators, which risked blackout as they began to run low on fuel. After the cable was repaired during an IAEA-brokered ceasefire, the plant’s operators assured that the plant operated safely during the disconnection and that all systems had returned to normal operating mode.

Global

The World Nuclear Association’s World Nuclear Outlook Report reported that global nuclear generation reached a record 2,702 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2025, breaking the nuclear generation record set in the previous year. The report features comprehensive analysis of reactor performance, national development and plans, and governments’ progress toward achieving their nuclear power targets. The report also projects that global nuclear capacity could reach 1,457 gigawatts electrical (GWe) by 2050 if national targets are achieved, identified projects are delivered, and the existing fleets continue to operate.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi announced the new nuclear power projections at the 70th IAEA General Conference in Vienna, stating that global nuclear power capacity could more than triple by 2060. In the high case projection, global capacity reaches 1,045 gigawatts electrical (GWe) by 2050 and 1,284 GWe by 2060, approximately 3.4 times the 2025 level of 377.1 GWe. According to the IAEA’s report, the largest share of future nuclear additions globally is in Central and Eastern Asia, where nuclear capacity could rise from 114 GWe in 2025 to 407 GWe by 2060.

Twenty-six countries have signed a statement of support for the IAEA-led Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative. The IAEA asserts that ATLAS is a “globally coordinated effort to connect the nuclear and maritime sectors.” The signing countries are Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Turkey, the UAE, UK and the United States. The ATLAS initiative was unveiled at an August conference in Washington, D.C.

Russia

Russia’s State Environmental Expertise has given its approval for two new units at the Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant. The review included the environmental impact assessment for the two VVER units at Smolensk, which Rosatom says will form the model for future projects in Russia and elsewhere. Under Russia’s proposed new nuclear program, the two new Smolensk units are to be commissioned in 2033 and 2035 respectively and are scheduled to operate for 60 years.

China

The China Atomic Energy Authority has launched the Global Network for SMR Innovation (GNSI) with the aim of supporting SMR technology progress, standards, and deployment. In an event to promote the launch of the initiative at the 70th IAEA General Conference, the organizers elaborated that the open cooperation mechanism would complement the IAEA, with all membership voluntary and open to government departments, regulatory bodies, companies, and research institutes. The event heard from representatives from Pakistan, Thailand, and Nigeria about their support of the project and opportunities for cooperation.

China General Nuclear (CGN) Power Group has introduced the Hualong One 2.0 reactor, an upgraded version of its Hualong One design marketed for international export. Key new features of the design include improved safety software and modular construction capabilities, which CGN asserted makes it an optimal choice for overseas deployment. Groundwork has already begun for the first Hualong One 2.0 demonstration units as phase II of construction of the Jinqimen plant in Zhejiang province.

China National Nuclear Corporation announced the completion of key cold commissioning tests at the Changjiang unit 4 reactor in Hainan. The tests verify that the reactor’s systems are leak-proof and pave the way for further safety testing, fuel loading, and eventual grid connection. Meanwhile, Changjiang unit 3, which along with unit 4 is part of phase II of the plant’s construction, began full operations. Construction of units 3 and 4 began in May and December 2021, respectively.

China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Corp, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation, announced the pouring of the first safety-related concrete at the Zhaoyuan unit 2 reactor in Shandong province, marking the beginning of its construction. This reactor is the second of six HPR1000s planned for Shandong, eventually producing 7.2 gigawatts. China’s state council approved construction of Zhaoyuan units 1 and 2 in August 2024, with construction of unit 1 beginning in November 2025.

China’s State Power Investment Corporation announced that groundwork had begun for the initial phase of the construction of the Laiyang nuclear power plant in Shandong province. Phase one comprises the first two of six planned CAP1400 reactors, which will be the first of these reactors to be deployed commercially. China’s State Council approved the initial construction phase in late July.

China National Nuclear Corporation and the IAEA have signed an agreement to cooperate and conduct exchanges on topics regarding High Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGRs). The agreement will cover technical aspects of HGTRs, including R&D, design, construction, and operation, as well as supply chains and personnel training. CNNC began construction on the Xuwei Nuclear Heating and Power Plant, an HGTR, in January.

Europe

U.S. reactor startup TerraPower has set out a timeline for the deployment of its Natrium small modular reactors (SMR) in the United Kingdom, targeting operations by 2034, given the company’s progress in the United States. TerraPower has been preparing for deployment in the United Kingdom since 2025 and officially began regulatory review under the Office of Nuclear Regulation in February. The United Kingdom is seeking to deploy SMRs through the Advanced Nuclear Framework.

The United Kingdom’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero has directed British regulators to begin the Generic Design Assessment of X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor. The decision was announced exactly a year after Centrica and X-energy Reactor signed a Joint Development Agreement to deploy X-energy’s Xe-100 advanced modular reactors in the United Kingdom, with the Hartlepool site identified as the preferred first location. The Xe-100 is a Generation-IV advanced reactor design, and X-energy is advancing its initial Xe-100 plant in Texas.

British company Rolls-Royce SMR and Swiss engineering company ABB signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) through which ABB will explore how its automation and electrification solutions can be used in the delivery of small modular reactors (SMR). Within the scope of the MoU, the two companies will identify collaboration opportunities on Rolls-Royce’s SMR development. The British government selected Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred technology for the United Kingdom’s first SMR project, with a final investment decision expected to be taken in 2029.

The United Kingdom’s Office of Nuclear Regulation and Environment Agency each published plans for reforms to their nuclear regulatory frameworks as part of national efforts to speed up nuclear delivery. The reform plans include measures to improve coordination between government and industry and modernize assessment methods. The plans were requested by the government in March as part of the country’s overhaul of its nuclear regulation, which is expected to be complete by the end of next year.

The European Investment Bank is investing up to €40 million ($46 million) in Finland’s small modular reactor (SMR) company Steady Energy for its LDR-50 reactor. This is the European Investment Bank’s first investment in an SMR technology, and the money will support Steady Energy’s research and development, as well as testing and licensing activities, between now and 2028. In the past, the European Investment Bank has avoided investing in new nuclear projects but has recently issued loans for a Romanian reactor refurbishment project and a project to extend the Georges Besse II uranium enrichment plant in France.

Italy’s Senate is set to vote on a bill that would reverse the country’s decades-long nuclear shutdown, with Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto stating that Italy could be generating nuclear electricity again by 2035. The bill would establish a legal pathway for new reactors, including the serial production of small modular reactors (SMR) by the end of the decade. Italy abandoned nuclear power after a 1987 referendum, but Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government aims to reintroduce nuclear energy in order to strengthen the country’s energy independence.

Swedish SMR Blykalla applied for state support for its second SMR project at Untra in Tierp municipality after proposing the project to the government in late August. Sweden’s program for state aid for nuclear power offers support through state loans, risk-sharing, and a two-way contract for difference. This is Blykalla’s second application for state aid for an SMR project, having done the same for its planned Norrsundet plant in June.

Studsvik selected GE Vernova Hitachi and Samsung to partner with it on SMR construction in Sweden. This newly formed consortium seeks to continue the development of an “SMR park” featuring four BWRX-300s either at Studsvik's Nyköping site, for which it already holds a license, or at a new site in Valdemarsvik. Both GE Vernova Hitachi and Samsung had previously worked with Kärnfull Next, a nuclear company which was recently acquired by Studsvik and which Studsvik inherited the SMR park project from.

The Czech Republic’s State Office for Nuclear Security issued an approval for reactors at the Temelín power plant to use fuel assemblies produced by Westinghouse. The approval comes after years of testing following the initial contract for the fuel between Westinghouse and ČEZ, which was signed in 2022 amid efforts to reduce dependence on Russian assemblies. The now-approved Westinghouse assemblies are planned for loading later this year.

The Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) will provide fuel fabrication and material corrosion evaluation services to Danish floating molten salt reactor developer Saltfoss for its seaMSR-100 reactor. KAERI will apply its existing infrastructure and technical expertise to support Saltfoss’ fuel development program and also process molten fluoride salt into a state suitable for nuclear fuel manufacturing. Saltfoss’ seaMSR-100 is a 100 MWe reactor that can operate for 24 years without refueling.

Completion of the Rosatom-built Paks II plant in Hungary has been delayed, according to confidential documents obtained by Politico. The documents allegedly placed a completion date in late 2034, rather than the official date of 2032, as well as outlined construction milestones that have been missed. The delay comes amid safety concerns at other plants being constructed by Rosatom, as well as the election of a new government in Hungary that is skeptical of Russian influence and has questioned the Paks II project.

Asia & The Pacific

Despite the hope that the U.S. and South Korea would soon be announcing a collaboration on the construction of eight large-scale nuclear reactors, the South Korean government has reportedly postponed a National Assembly report on a $200 billion investment in the United States. The signing and announcement of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the first U.S.-bound investment project between the United States and South Korea had been scheduled for September 18. The core reasons for the delay are that the United States has expressed reluctance to approve the construction of Korean-designed reactors within its borders and has reportedly rejected South Korea’s desire for a 20% stake in the U.S. nuclear company, Westinghouse Electric and related voting rights. The Korean National Assembly must act before the MOU can proceed.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has signed a letter of intent with French nuclear fuel cycle company Orano for long-term cooperation in the uranium enrichment sector. Under the letter of intent, Orano and KHNP are preparing to strengthen cooperation in the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle, and KHNP plans to expand its access to new Western enrichment sources. The letter of intent builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in April between the two companies on global and mutual cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Vietnamese state energy firm Petrovietnam and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) have agreed to accelerate discussions on building one of Vietnam’s first two nuclear power plants. The two sides discussed implementing existing cooperation agreements in the nuclear power sector and agreed to intensify exchanges of technology, investment, and financing options for future projects. The talks come as Vietnam is seeking a foreign partner for the planned Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear project, with Rosatom already chosen for the development of Ninh Thuan 1.

Japan’s Chubu Electric Power is planning to withdraw its application to restart the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors of its Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant following a scandal over the cherry-picking of earthquake risk data. Chubu Electric Power is alleged to have underestimated the possible earthquake vibrations during the Nuclear Regulation Authority’s screening for the restart of the Hamaoka reactors. Additionally, the company has been found to have attempted a cover-up after the secretariat of the authority began investigating the matter last year.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has signed an agreement with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency for a feasibility study on the deployment of U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) technologies in Thailand. The U.S.-funded study will help EGAT assess potential locations, costs, and the regulatory steps needed to move forward Thailand’s plans for deploying SMR technologies. Thailand does not currently have any nuclear reactors but has identified potential SMR deployment as part of the country’s long-term development strategy.

Africa

Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe made a pair of announcements regarding nuclear power in the country at the World Nuclear Symposium. He announced that Togo had signed on to the global pledge to at least triple nuclear power production by 2050, becoming the 39th country to do so. Additionally, he announced that the country would host the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa in 2027. Togo has been a member of the IAEA since 2012 and in 2025 established a domestic agency to promote nuclear power development.

Australian company Bannerman completed capital raising for the Etango uranium mine in Namibia. The company brought in AUD124 million ($89 million), enough to fully fund the project with no debt. Bannerman is collaborating with Chinese National Nuclear Corporation on the project and plans to make a final investment decision in Q4 2026.

Niger’s Council of Ministers granted a mining permit for the Arlit uranium mine, which was previously operated by Orano, to a state-owned company. The Nigerien government originally revoked Orano’s mining rights in July 2023 following a coup d’etat, and in June 2025 nationalized SOMAïR, Orano’s regional subsidiary. At the same time, the Council of Ministers adopted a decree reallocating the mining permit for the Madouela mine to a subsidiary of the same company it had been expropriated from in 2024.

The Middle East

Saudi Arabia announced it has discovered 110 million tons of uranium-bearing ore containing a combination of uranium and rare earths. While Saudi Arabia has identified these uranium resources across multiple sites, the OECD/NEA Red Book reports that about 31,700 tons of deposits are verified to be potentially a high enough grade to be economically recovered. Saudi Arabia is seeking to adopt nuclear energy and develop the ability to enrich uranium for its nuclear power program.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that the United States would be prepared to provide Iran with nuclear fuel if the Iranian nuclear issue is resolved. Wright went on to claim that Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon, although Iran has repeatedly said it has never sought to develop one. These comments come as the United States continues its military strikes on Iran.

Confidential documents obtained by Politico alleged safety issues in Rosatom’s construction of the El Dabaa plant in Egypt. The documents from the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority alleged deliberate negligence and deception by officials working on the project, making the project look further along in construction than it is. The documents also identified technical defects in the plants. Outside of Egypt, Rosatom is working to deploy similar plants in Hungary, Turkey, and China, among other countries.

Syria notified the IAEA of newly discovered previously undeclared nuclear materials and provided the agency access to them. The material, which is composed of 73 tons of natural uranium, will remain in Syria under IAEA supervision and safeguards. Syria had previously conducted undeclared nuclear activities under Bashar al-Assad; however, since Assad’s removal from power, the new government has cooperated with the IAEA and opened the country to inspections.

South & Central America

The Argentinian National Atomic Energy Commission and the Secretariat for Nuclear Affairs announced that they are aiming to commission the RA-10 research reactor by the end of this year. The RA-10 project will be used for multiple purposes, including radioisotope production for Argentina’s medical sector. Construction of the reactor itself began in 2016 and, pending a license from Argentina’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority, is planned to begin operating in 2027.

North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy

United States

The 123 nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia has been submitted to Congress for approval. It has generated controversy because it allows Saudi Arabia the possibility to enrich uranium in-country and contains a bilateral safeguards alternative to the IAEA’s Additional Protocol. Congress has 90 days to act on the deal. No action will result in approval. In response, a group of U.S. House representatives has introduced a Joint Resolution of Disapproval to block the agreement’s entry into force, arguing that the agreement departs from nonproliferation standards and presents considerable risks. Additionally, a bipartisan group of Senators are pressing for the Trump administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed agreement.

The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on advanced nuclear reactors to examine efforts to accelerate deployment, strengthen the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain, and compete with China and Russia. The hearing brought together reactor developers and experts to examine progress toward commercial deployment and the remaining regulatory, fuel supply, and workforce challenges. The hearing comes after four advanced reactors achieved criticality by the Trump administration’s July 4 deadline.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing has closed a loan of up to $1.9 billion to NextEra Energy for the restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa. While Duane Arnold closed in 2020, NextEra Energy announced plans to restart the shuttered plant by early 2029 pending regulatory approvals. As part of a 25-year power purchase agreement with Google, the restart of the Duane Arnold site will generate 615 megawatts electrical (MWe) and power nearly 500,000 homes.

Holtec International is going ahead with work at the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant before the issuance of a Limited Work Authorization for two small modular reactors (SMR). The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) previously granted Holtec the exemption which would allow for certain construction activities to commence before a construction permit or combined construction and operating license has been issued. Holtec is planning to restart operations at the shuttered Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, as well as deploy two new SMR units at the site.

Blue Energy has submitted the first part of its construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its planned gas-to-nuclear project in Port of Victoria, Texas. The application relates to the first nuclear unit at the site and includes a request to start limited construction activities. In November of last year, Blue Energy announced an agreement with AI infrastructure firm Crusoe through which it secured a site for a nuclear plant in the Port of Victoria to power Crusoe’s AI factories on a nearby site.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has proposed a broad overhaul of its regulations governing nuclear reactor licensing and oversight. The proposal would remove the expiration date for standard design approvals, update how the NRC establishes new or revised requirements for existing facilities and apply a more risk-informed approach to earthquake design requirements. This proposal is part of the NRC’s efforts to implement President Donald Trump’s executive order that directs the agency to modernize its regulatory framework and approve nuclear reactors more efficiently.

The U.S. Department of War announced the planned installation of an advanced micro-modular reactor (MMR) at the Naval Weapons Station Crane in Indiana no later than September 2028. The project is being carried out jointly by the Army’s Janus Program, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment, the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, and the State of Indiana.

Centrus Energy and Radiant announced a multi-year contract to supply high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel needed to deploy multiple Kaleidos microreactors. Under the agreement, Centrus will begin delivering HALEU to Radiant’s Kaleidos fleet before the end of the decade. Centrus’ AC100 centrifuge design is the only deployment-ready U.S. technology available for unobligated enrichment, and Radiant is developing its Kaleidos reactors to provide power for remote locations, data centers, and defense applications.

The National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) and the Department of Energy has selected physics company Nusano to develop its direct metallization high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) nuclear fuel production line as part of the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Program. The Nusano HALEU production line will use metallic uranium feedstock to produce HALEU in a single enrichment pass. The Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Program is a federal initiative designed to accelerate innovative nuclear technologies from concept to commercial deployment.

Westinghouse Electric Company successfully completed criticality testing for its eVinci microreactor at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The tests generated high-quality temperature data that Westinghouse will use to strengthen its analytical models and accelerate the eVinci reactor prototype design. The eVinci microreactor is one of several designs that received funding from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has opened the $175 million Affordable Rural Cooperative Program (ARC) to boost nuclear power and strengthen the reliability of America’s electric power transmission. The ARC offers loans and grants to help eligible cooperatives deploy advanced transmission infrastructure and nuclear power supply. The USDA’s Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is accepting Letters of Interest between October 19 and November 20 of this year.

A number of collaboration agreements have been signed between U.S. and British partners aimed at accelerating the commercial deployment of nuclear fusion power plants around the world. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory signed a joint declaration of intent to explore linking their advanced fusion supercomputing platforms, using AI to accelerate fusion energy development.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration has selected Antares for a $161 million strategic breakthrough award to advance nuclear power for space. Antares will demonstrate a nuclear demonstration of the RI-S reactor and integrate it with a spacecraft for flight certification before launch. The National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power directs the launch of nuclear reactors in space as early as 2028.

Canada

Montreal-based startup Prodigy Clean Energy announced plans to deliver a reactor-agnostic transportable floating nuclear power plant in New Brunswick. Furthermore, the government of New Brunswick has issued a letter of intent to purchase power produced by the plant. The plant will be owned by Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has closed its Invitation for Clean Energy Projects program and the Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative. CNL asserted that this was necessary to allow it to focus its operations on helping lead the new nuclear projects planned in the country. The Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative had supported over a dozen nuclear technology developments since 2019, while the Clean Energy Projects program had solicited clean energy projects at CNL sites since 2018, none of which remain active.

Mexico

There are no new updates for this region.

New Research

Plans for New Reactors Worldwide

World Nuclear Association, September 16

Uranium 2026: Resources, Production, and Demand

Nuclear Energy Agency, September 14

Op-Eds & Articles

The Real U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Is Better Than We Thought

War on the Rocks, September 17

3 Questions: Putting Nuclear Waste into Perspective

MIT Climate Portal, September 15

Russian Nuclear Ties Persist in the West as War Claims Another Life at Zaporizhzhia

Bellona, September 14

Can America Build Enough Nuclear Reactors?

The National Interest, September 14

The Anti-Nuclear Playbook Comes for Data Centers

Real Clear Energy, September 14

Why the Pentagon Picked an Indiana Navy Base to Host a Nuclear Microreactor

Breaking Defense, September 10

Why California Is Reconsidering Its Decision to Shun Nuclear Power

The New York Times, September 9

Is the U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Moving from the Gold Standard to a Gilded Standard?

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, September 9

America’s Nuclear Revolution Is Here – And It Won’t Look Like the Last One

The Heritage Foundation, September 9

California, an Environmental Bastion, Warms to Nuclear Energy

The New York Times, September 9

How the U.S. Fell Behind China on Nuclear Power

Oil Price, September 4

How to Revive US-South Korea Discussions on Nuclear Enrichment and Reprocessing

The National Interest, September 3

Why Putin’s Nuclear Empire Doesn’t Need Warheads

Newsweek, September 3

Modern Regulation for a New Nuclear Era

POWER Magazine, September 3

The Nuclear Energy Renaissance Is Here. Industry Leaders Want Congress to Seize the Moment.

The National Review, September 2

News items and summaries compiled by:

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security