Greetings!

In this issue we highlight reports on the role of nuclear energy in meeting global clean-energy goals and the overseas business expansion by Rosatom and China, as well as civil nuclear developments in Asia and Europe, and updates on potential cyber threats. We also highlight remarks by PGS President Kenneth Luongo on the convergence of nuclear energy, clean air and global security.

This was an important week that brought significant attention to the nexus of nuclear power, carbon reduction, and global security - an issue integration pioneered by PGS through the  Global Nexus Initiative . 

 

At the Copenhagen  9th Clean Energy Ministerial , nuclear power was highlighted as a major decarbonization technology when the U.S., Canada, and Japan announced the creation of the  Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy  (NICE) Future initiative. Argentina, Poland, Romania, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom will also participate in the project. This is a significant step forward in recognizing that it will be extremely difficult if not impossible to reach the Paris Climate Agreement objectives without nuclear power as part of the clean-energy technology mix. In fact, the International Energy Agency  reported  this week that current nuclear phase-out policies will decrease the probability of meeting the Paris Agreement climate goals by 2030.

 

Nuclear power is also a vital element in geopolitics, a point made this week by former US government officials at  NEI's Nuclear Energy Assembly  in Atlanta, Georgia. These experts painted a stark picture, noting that a civil nuclear environment dominated by Russia and China raises significant global security concerns. The U.S. has been ineffective in positioning its nuclear technology and governance advantages in the international market, while competitors such as Russia and China are calculating and deliberate in how they use nuclear power exports to further their geopolitical ambitions.

 

These strategies were apparent this week in announcements by Russia and China. Rosatom  introduced a new agenda at the ATOMEXPO forum that takes into account the role of nuclear power in reducing CO2 emissions. It is also aggressively expanding its overseas business by forging agreements to promote nuclear cooperation, training and technological development with  Chile ,  China ,  Cuba ,  Finland ,  Hungary ,  Italy ,  Kazakhstan ,  Serbia , Spain ,  and  Zambia .  Meanwhile, China  signed  a Memorandum of Understanding with Uganda to cooperate on nuclear energy, extending its investments in the country’s infrastructure. Russia inked a similar  agreement with Uganda last year.

 

It’s gratifying to see that the policy discussion is at last starting to link nuclear energy, clean air, global security, and geopolitics. But the pace and urgency of these discussion needs to accelerate if these challenges are to be met.

The IEA  reported that current phase-out policies will decrease the probability of nuclear energy in meeting Paris Agreement climate goals by 2030.

A  report by  WIREs Climate Change shows that nuclear energy is the only low-carbon energy source that lacks funding.

The U.S. nuclear fleet produces 20% of the U.S. electricity and more than 50% of the total clean energy. However, nearly a quarter of the nuclear fleet is reported to be at risk of early closure in coming years.

This week, New Jersey's passed a new law that will establish a Zero Emissions Certificate program to maintain NJ's nuclear energy supply and help reduce the state's carbon emissions.

After the Copenhagen  9th Clean Energy Ministerial, Canada, Japan, and the U.S. partnered to create the  Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy (NICE) Future initiative with the  aim of making nuclear power a key player in global decarbonization by linking it to discussions on innovation and clean energy.

Rosatom is  conducting a new agenda that takes into account the role of nuclear power in reducing CO2 emissions. It is aggressively expanding its overseas business by forging agreements to promote nuclear cooperation, training and education, innovation and technological development with  Chile,  China,  Cuba,  Finland,  Hungary,  Italy,  Kazakhstan,  Serbia, and  Spain and  Zambia.

China has  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Uganda to cooperate on nuclear energy. China is also a major  investor in other Ugandan infrastructure projects. Russia also  signed a similar MOU with Uganda last year. 

Japan’s utility started regulatory procedures to start Shimane’s new nuclear reactor, as its construction nears completion. This will be the first new reactor to start operation after the Fukushima incident and lines up with the Japanese Industry Ministry's ambitious proposal to make nuclear energy account for 20-22% of the country's total power generation by 2030.

The Czech government postponed its decision to build new NPPs due to budgeting issues.

The Bulgarian government decided to revive the Belene NPP. Both Russia and China are interested in investing in the project.

Why the world needs nuclear power

White House Chronicle, May 21

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Will Soon Face a Moment of Reckoning

GTM, May 14

America Should Open Up the Saudi Arabian Nuclear Energy Market

The National Interest, May 13

How to save the failing nuclear power plants that generate half of America’s clean electricity

Vox, May 11

Spotlight

On May 23, PGS President Ken Luongo moderated the session on "Regaining America's Place in a Thriving Global Nuclear Market" at NEI's Nuclear Energy Assembly in Atlanta, Georgia.

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.