Nuclear Tomorrow - August 2025
Nuclear Tomorrow - August 2025
Nuclear Tomorrow is a newsletter that is issued monthly to identify press reports on developments in the field of nuclear energy. Topics are selected for their relevance to the impact of nuclear energy on global warming. The newsletter is written for members of the general public who are concerned with policy related to these issues. Postings are categorized as dealing with Technology (T), Policy (P), and/or Construction (C). In some cases registration or a fee is required to access an article. Hyperlinks are provided to connect newsletter posts to the referenced publication. (See hot buttons associated with each posting) The newsletter is intended to expand on topics included in the book, “Nuclear Energy: Boom, Bust, and Emerging Renaissance,” which has recently been published by Oxford University Press. The author of the book and of this newsletter is Edward A. Friedman, Emeritus Professor of Technology Management at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. The book is available for purchase via the Oxford University Press Website. The following link provides access to the book:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/nuclear-energy-9780198925781?lang=en&cc=gb#
1.
IAEA Launches Outlook on Nuclear Power for Development in Africa at G20 (P)
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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Group of Twenty (G20) have released a groundbreaking publication examining nuclear power potential in Africa. Launched during a G20 energy transitions meeting in South Africa, the report highlights the continent's growing interest in nuclear energy as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, which currently account for over 70% of Africa's electricity production.
Currently, South Africa is the only African country with nuclear power, operating the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station with nearly two gigawatts of capacity. However, enthusiasm is building across the continent, with Egypt constructing its first nuclear plant and countries like Ghana and Kenya working with the IAEA to develop nuclear infrastructure.
The IAEA projects that Africa's nuclear capacity could increase five to ten-fold by 2050, depending on the scenario. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are of particular interest due to their suitability for Africa's relatively small electric grids and lower capital costs.
The report addresses the critical challenge that about half a billion Africans lack access to electricity. It emphasizes the need for addressing financing challenges, implementing supportive government policies, and adopting regional approaches to nuclear development. Africa's uranium mining potential is also highlighted, as the continent hosts three of the world's top ten uranium producers: Namibia, Niger, and South Africa.
2.
US-owned, privately developed uranium facility planned for Paducah. What to know ( C )
California-based nuclear startup General Matter plans to establish America's first privately-owned uranium enrichment facility in Paducah, Kentucky's McCracken County. The company, backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and early SpaceX engineer Scott Nolan, announced its project through Founders Fund, Thiel's venture capital firm.
An August 5th announcement event featured Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and congressional leaders. The company emphasized Paducah's historical significance, noting the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission selected the site 75 years ago for the nation's original enrichment efforts.
The project aligns with broader nuclear energy developments in the region. The former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is under federal consideration for AI infrastructure and energy projects as part of the Trump administration's accelerated plan to build national AI capabilities. The Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority recently visited the site to assess redevelopment opportunities. Additionally, Global Laser Enrichment is constructing a separate uranium enrichment facility nearby, targeting 2030 operations.
3.
Legal Questions - Under Trump NASA is accelerating a push to put a reactor on the moon, ahead of China and Russia. The plan could involve a “keep-out zone” on the lunar surface. (P)
NASA Accelerates Lunar Nuclear Reactor Plans Amid Legal Concerns
NASA is rushing to place a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, ahead of China and Russia's planned mid-2030s installation. Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy cited the project's importance for supporting a future lunar economy, Mars missions, and national security, while suggesting the first nation to succeed could declare a "keep-out zone."
The initiative raises significant legal questions under existing space law frameworks. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, signed by all major spacefaring nations, prohibits territorial claims on celestial bodies but creates ambiguity around operational zones. The nonbinding Artemis Accords (which China and Russia haven't signed) outline vague "safety zones" for space operations.
Legal experts worry about the first-mover advantage this creates. Under the treaty's "due regard" clause, nations must respect others' activities, potentially giving early arrivals greater exclusion rights. The proposed 100-kilowatt reactor would power lunar operations in the moon's south pole region, where water ice and limited solar energy make nuclear power attractive.
Critics express concerns about rushing nuclear development, radioactive waste management, and the potential for a "gold rush" mentality that could lead to conflicts over lunar resources and environmental damage.
4.
Russia’s Nuclear Ambitions Face Funding Crisis (P)
Russia's state nuclear agency Rosatom is facing a severe financing crisis that threatens its global market leadership and ability to fulfill international commitments. The company, which currently holds approximately 50% of the global nuclear energy market, is seeking government financial support to maintain operations and fund new projects beyond 2027.
The financing difficulties have already caused tangible setbacks. Kazakhstan terminated contracts with Russia's Inter RAO for three thermal power plants worth $2.7 billion after promised Russian export financing failed to materialize. Instead, Kazakhstan will build these facilities independently.
More significantly, Russia's nuclear ambitions in Kazakhstan are now in jeopardy. While Rosatom was initially selected to build Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant contingent on securing financing, Kazakhstan has since awarded contracts for second and third nuclear plants to China's National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), suggesting diminished confidence in Russia's ability to deliver.
The crisis stems from international sanctions limiting Rosatom's financing options and Russia's strained state budget due to the Ukraine war. Officials acknowledge that without increased government subsidies, Russia risks losing its competitive edge to Chinese competitors in the nuclear sector. This represents a potential strategic shift in Central Asia's energy partnerships away from Russia toward China.
5.
French MPs Float Plan to Mine Bitcoins With Surplus Nuclear Energy (P)
French lawmakers are developing legislation to utilize surplus nuclear energy for Bitcoin mining, according to recent reports. The proposed bill would install mining hardware at facilities owned by state utility Électricité de France (EDF) to capitalize on excess electricity generated by nuclear power plants.
France leads European Union nuclear production with 338,202 gigawatt hours in 2023, representing over half the bloc's total output. However, more than two-thirds of nuclear energy is lost as heat during electricity generation.
MP Aurélien Lopez-Liguori, involved in drafting the legislation, described the initiative as "a secure and extremely profitable solution." This proposal follows a rejected June amendment that suggested evaluating cryptocurrency mining's potential contribution to France's energy mix.
Using surplus energy for Bitcoin mining isn't unprecedented globally. Pakistan recently allocated 2,000 megawatts for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, while stablecoin issuer Tether is exploring similar projects using renewable energy from South American agribusiness operations.
6.
What a new nuclear deal with Hungary means for US influence in Europe (P)
Hungary's nuclear energy firm Hunatom and Poland's Synthos Green Energy signed a letter of intent to build up to ten BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) designed by US company GE Vernova. This 300-megawatt reactor deal marks a potential geopolitical shift for Hungary, which has historically favored Russian nuclear technology and grown closer to Russia despite its EU membership.
The agreement's timing coincides with the recent US-EU trade deal, where the EU pledged to purchase $750 billion in American oil and gas during Trump's term, including investments in US nuclear technology. Hungary's SMR commitment could significantly contribute to fulfilling this trade pledge and potentially strengthen US-Hungary relations while supporting transatlantic unity against Russia.
However, Hungary maintains its nuclear partnership with Russia, operating four Russian VVER-440 reactors at the Paks plant that generate nearly half the country's electricity. Construction continues on two additional Russian VVER-1200 reactors at Paks II, suggesting Hungary may be hedging between EU alignment and Russian influence rather than making a decisive pivot.
The US has expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Hungary beyond nuclear energy into defense, commerce, and space sectors. Whether this deal represents a genuine shift away from Russian dependence or strategic hedging remains uncertain, though it brings Hungary closer to Poland and broader EU energy policies.
7.
Nuclear fuel crisis could foil industry’s US revival (T)
The U.S. nuclear industry is experiencing renewed momentum with backing from tech giants like Amazon and Google, plus Trump administration support for advanced reactor development. However, America's limited uranium enrichment capacity threatens this nuclear renaissance.
The U.S. was once the global nuclear fuel leader, processing six times more uranium in 1985 than today. After the Cold War, the government privatized enrichment operations, expecting continued access to foreign suppliers. This strategy backfired when the 2011 Fukushima disaster crashed uranium prices and Russia came to dominate global supply.
Today, America's nuclear fleet sources 65-75% of enriched uranium from Europe and Russia. The recent ban on Russian uranium imports, imposed due to the Ukraine war, has intensified pressure for domestic production. The sole major U.S. enrichment facility in New Mexico has actually decreased capacity by 12% since 2018, partly due to technical failures in newer centrifuge technology.
Companies like Centrus Energy are positioning to expand HALEU (high-assay, low-enriched uranium) production needed for next-generation reactors, but face a "chicken and egg" problem: fuel enrichers won't invest without guaranteed markets, while reactor developers need fuel supply certainty. Multiple billion-dollar facility plans are in development, but success requires sustained political and financial commitment that has historically eluded U.S. nuclear initiatives.
8.
Taiwan keeps ‘advanced nuclear energy’ door ajar despite referendum setback (P)
A referendum to restart the island’s last nuclear reactor
failed by a vote of 4.33 million yes votes to 1.51 million no votes due to a threshold that was required of 5 million votes. Following this vote, Taiwan’s President William Lai announced that the government is still open to introducing advanced nuclear energy in the future
9.
U.S. DOE Backs 11 Advanced Nuclear Reactors Under Trump’s Fast-Track Pilot Program (P)
The U.S. Department of Energy has officially launched Trump’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program selecting 11 advanced reactor projects. This initiative aims to have at least three test reactors built, operational and achieving criticality by July 4, 2026. Each participating company will cover the costs of design, manufacturing, construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of the test reactor. These reactors which will be built on federal land outside of national laboratories will be exempt from review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Concern for this approach has been voiced by Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists who stated,”There is no transparency, and there is no real public input into the safety decisions…”
https://www.ehn.org/trump-administration-pushes-ahead-with-fast-track-plan-for-new-nuclear-reactors
There are 10 companies pursuing these 11 reactor designs:
Aalo Atomics Inc.
Antares Nuclear Inc.
Atomic Alchemy Inc.
Deep Fission Inc.
Last Energy Inc.
Oklo Inc.
Natura Resources LLC
Radiant Industries Inc.
Terrestrial Energy Inc.
Valar Atomics inc.
10.
Aalo breaks ground for experimental reactor (T)
Two weeks after being selected as one of the 10 advanced reactor projects under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Project Program, Aalo Atomics has broken ground at a site in Idaho to start construction of its first experimental modular reactor the Aalo-X. The site is next to the Idaho National Laboratory Material and Fuels Complex. The 50 Megawatt sodium cooled reactor is designed to be factory constructed and transported to the operations site. It is designed specifically for AI data processing.
11.
To fuel AI’s insatiable appetite, Nvidia and Big Tech are doubling down on nuclear (P)
Nvidia’s venture-captial arm participated in a $836 million fundraising round for the nuclear-fusion startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems. This company whose fusion technology emerged from work at MIT has now raised $3 billion.
12.
Bill Gates-backed Terrapower, Utah to explore reactor sites amid power demand surge (P)
Responding to the need of for energy in support of AI processing, the state of Utah and Bill Gates Terrapower company have entered into an agreement to explore sites for Terrapower’s Natrium reactor in the state. A Natrium reactor is currently under construction in Wyoming.
13.
Another Old Nuclear Reactor is Coming Back. These Stocks Could Benefit. (P)
NextEra Energy plans to reopen a nuclear reactor known as the Duane Arnold energy center near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This is the third mothballed reactor reopening that has been announced since 2024. The other two are at Three Mile Island and Palisades, Michigan. Duane Arnold was closed in 2020
since it was uncompetitive at that time. Soaring power demands have changed the calculus for reactor economics. This facility is expected to be online again in 2028.
14.
GOOGLE Taps nuclear power for data centers, reveals first reactor site ( C )
Google has announced plans to build a 50 Megawatt reactor in Oakridge, Tennessee with Kairos Power in collaboration with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Kairos reactor known as Hermes 2 is being developed with a standardized design to cut costs for future deployments. The deal with Kairos is
scheduled for implementation of 500 megawatts of power targeted to come online through 2035 to meet AI power requirements.
15.
Germany, France agree to settle long-running nuclear energy dispute (P)
Germany will drop its opposition to France's use of nuclear energy as a low carbon emission technology in the context of EU legislation. Previously Germany has opposed classifying nuclear energy as sustainable.