Highly enriched uranium (HEU), a core component of nuclear weapons, has been used for decades to power research reactors, produce medical isotopes and fuel naval submarines. Today, with a few exceptions, technical developments have made it possible to replace HEU with LEU in nearly all current uses and have rendered future new civil uses of

The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia has created significant impacts in the global nuclear fuel market because Russia was a major fuel supplier. Now, nations are looking to remove their dependence from Russian nuclear fuel and lock the Russians out of the global fuel market with policy action. However, given the lack of conversion

The Russia-Ukraine war has created an energy crisis in Europe, particularly due to the overdependence from Europe on Russian energy supplies. As a result, energy considerations in the world now have shifted from power production towards considerations of clean energy and energy security. Nuclear can play a significant role in mitigating the energy crisis. Engagements

21st century challenges will require international cooperation and security alliances as climate change is a global problem that extends beyond borders. Achieving net-zero emissions will require more than double the generation of electricity, and the scale of this challenge will require significant contributions from new nuclear power.  SMR deployment will be a crucial aspect to

President Biden’s visit to Asia represented a significant government level interest in cooperating with allied nations in Asia on the topics of clean energy partnership and cooperation. While the cost of nuclear technologies is relatively high, the cost of national security and energy security imperatives through nuclear energy are even higher. Given the current market

Geopolitics and energy security changes were beginning before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the changes were hastened by the invasion. The global order needs to recognize that relationships with Russia are not likely to improve anytime soon. There is growing support of nuclear technology in the United States, and nuclear will need to double

In 2009, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) awarded a $20 billion bid to the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), and the award was also financially and geopolitically beneficial to the United States. The ROK and US should continue this momentum of collaboration. In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, countries in Central and Eastern

Much of the focus of global nuclear exports has been focused on the exporting capability and the readiness of the technologies, but once all these issues are resolved, if capacity building is not a part of the solution, then customers for SMRs and ARs will not exist. Even when a customer is willing to purchase

There are a number of pressing needs for the US and Korea to cooperate on nuclear exports. First, cooperation in nuclear exports can provide an opportunity to break Russia and China’s geopolitical dominance in the nuclear export industry. Second, a cooperative effort in nuclear exports can spur a revitalization of the nuclear industries in both

Cooperation in financing of nuclear reactor projects between the United States and South Korea will be integral to the joint efforts in exporting nuclear technologies. There are a number of global developments that have suggested that there is a renewed opportunity for nuclear in the global market including the Russia-Ukraine war, South Korea’ recent presidential