Greetings! In this issue we highlight recent Chinese and Russian nuclear geopolitical developments, a new Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) report which focuses on nuclear energy, and new advancements in nuclear security and technology. We also recommend several opinion pieces that caught our attention.

‌ ‌

Nuclear Policy, Governance, and Geopolitics

This week, Kazakhstan will host the International Conference of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, to strengthen confidence-building measures in the context of non-proliferation. Last week, the Bellona Organization published a report analyzing the expanding nuclear industry in Russia, providing insight to how Russia is gaining prominence in the nuclear industry. The Tianwan nuclear power plant (NPP), the biggest joint nuclear plant between Russia and China, is one step closer to becoming operational as Russia announced nuclear fuel-loading. China plans on installing floating nuclear power stations in the South China Sea before the year 2020, raising environmental and geopolitical concerns. This week a Chinese delegation visited a Bulgarian NPP with efforts to restart construction on a once frozen NPP project in Bulgaria. French company CIFAL stated that it is willing to help Uzbekistan in the development of nuclear energy and coordinate with Russia’s Rosatom.

Civil Nuclear Developments

A new MIT study concludes that cutting global carbon emissions and meeting climate change standards will be tough without expanding nuclear power. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved an order that will allow NPPs to be eligible for a Zero Emission Credit (ZEC) program, in an effort to provide support to the state's NPPs. Armenia has created a Nuclear Energy Safety Council to help with the development and construction of NPPs. This comes after the announcement that electricity consumption reached unprecedented levels in the country this summer. Russia’s Kola NPP received an extension to continue operations until 2033, making it one of the oldest operational reactors in the world, raising environmental and safety concerns in Europe. Last week France’s environment minister resigned. This week President Macron named Francois De Rugy as the new environment minister, prompting a discussion about the future of nuclear policy in France.

Nuclear Security and Emerging Technologies The U.S. Energy Department is teaming up with TerraPower, a company founded by Bill Gates, to develop small nuclear reactors. Expected testing will begin in 2019. The automobile company, Rolls Royce, wants to expand into the civil nuclear sphere and offer data analytics in order to predict when nuclear power stations may break down. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has agreed that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can have reduced Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs), which could benefit construction of future SMRs. Russia’s floating nuclear power plant, docked in Murmansk, shows the advantages that this nuclear technology may have over traditional land-based power plants.

The Nuclear Conversation

One Secret to Building Affordable Nuclear: Stick with Tried-and-True Designs Technology Review, September 3 How Utah is Pioneering a Future with Clean Nuclear Energy Deseret News, August 31 US Nuclear Power: Too Strategic to Fail The Hill, August 30 The Nuclear Power Plant of the Future May Be Floating Near Russia New York Times, August 26

The Partnership for Global Security (PGS) is a recognized international leader and innovator in nuclear and transnational security policy developing actionable responses to 21st century security challenges by engaging international, private sector, and multidisciplinary expert partners to assess policy needs, identify effective strategies, and drive demonstrable results.

Website

About Us

Current Projects

‌ ‌ DONATE

1400 I (Eye) St. NW, Suite 440 Washington, DC 20005 202-332-1412 CONTACT US