American Think Tank: Russia Helps China's Nuclear Energy Surpass the United States

According to the head of Rosatom, Russia will help China achieve a target of 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity and surpass the United States to become the world's largest nuclear energy producer. So far, Russia has helped build four nuclear reactors in China and will build another four. Although the United States currently operates the world's largest nuclear power network with a capacity of 97 GW, it has only added two reactors since 2015. In contrast, China built 35 reactors during the same period. To achieve Beijing's goal, China needs to import large amounts of uranium and fuel, and Russia has planned to provide a closed nuclear fuel cycle based on Russian technology, allowing China to reprocess spent fuel. Strengthened Sino-Russian cooperation makes the U.S. efforts to promote nuclear energy production even more critical. If Washington hopes to maintain its leadership in the nuclear energy sector - a cornerstone of clean energy and national security - it must take all feasible measures to expand new nuclear power construction, advance next-generation technologies, and strengthen the domestic nuclear fuel industry. If it cannot compete meaningfully with China and Russia, it may lose technological leadership, nuclear energy development standards, and geopolitical influence in one of the most strategically significant energy markets.

South Africa Develops Ambitious Nuclear Expansion Plan

South Africa seems to be laying the foundation for a large-scale nuclear revival, planning to increase its nuclear power capacity by 10 GW over the next 10-15 years and rebuild its domestic nuclear fuel cycle. Deputy Director General of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Zizamele Mambobo, emphasized at the World Nuclear Symposium that South Africa should "achieve self-sufficiency throughout the entire nuclear energy value chain" and noted the recent extension of the life of Unit 1 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. South Africa currently has two nuclear reactors, which account for 5% of its electricity generation. The country plans to rebuild the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor project, explore small modular reactors (SMRs), and launch the construction of a new reactor for radioactive isotopes. A nuclear power plant with a capacity of 4.6 GW near Koeberg has received environmental approval. Nevertheless, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation CEO Loyiso Tyabashe pointed out that promotion is crucial for gaining public acceptance, and the economic benefits of nuclear energy need to be emphasized. Given that South Africa has been facing major energy and infrastructure challenges, its plan to expand nuclear energy is commendable. In 2023, power outages caused grid disruptions for 290 days, and in 2024, the number of outage days was reduced to 69. However, water shortages remain a significant risk, with water prices increasing by 50% since 2020, presenting additional obstacles for energy-intensive industries such as nuclear power.

Dewey-Borton Uranium Mine in South Dakota Receives Federal Expedited Approval

The Dewey-Borton uranium mining project in South Dakota has been selected for the federal FAST-41 expedited approval process. While this process does not guarantee approval, it significantly streamlines the project process, expected to save 18 months of approval time. The project had been put on hold for about two decades but, according to current plans, is expected to pass the federal approval process sometime next year. The FAST-41 process is part of Section 41 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, signed by President Barack Obama at the end of 2015. During the first term of the Trump administration, the mining industry was included under the FAST-41 framework. This project further supports Donald Trump's executive order on nuclear energy, particularly the "immediate actions to increase U.S. mineral production" executive order, as well as his vision to revitalize the domestic nuclear industry, which is part of Trump's energy-dominated agenda.

DOE Invests $134 Million to Advance U.S. Nuclear Fusion

The United States is investing more in nuclear fusion energy alongside China, Japan, and the UK. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an investment of $134 million to enhance the U.S. leadership in the field of nuclear fusion, considered by many to be the next frontier of clean energy. Most of the funds, $128 million, will be used to fund seven teams under the Fusion Innovation Research Engine (FIRE) program, while $6.1 million will be allocated through the Fusion Energy Network (INFUSE) program. These projects will include research on laser technology development, artificial intelligence (AI) learning, and high-temperature superconducting magnets. These investments are part of Donald Trump's mission to unlock U.S. energy potential and drive domestic technological development. Fusion energy is increasingly receiving global attention, with nearly $2.7 billion invested in the fusion field since last July, and Europe and China have also broken the world record for sustained plasma reactions.

Source: The National Interest

Author: Emily Dye

Date: September 12

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843202620835843/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author(s) alone.