Atlantic Council report analyzes Russian, Chinese nuclear power competition

In a recent report, Washington, D.C.-based think tank Atlantic Council analyzed challenges to U.S. nuclear power leadership from Russia and China and emphasized the role of U.S. nuclear energy engagement and investment in nuclear energy in promoting nuclear safety and nonproliferation.

“Nuclear power should be elevated in the Trump administration’s U.S. National Security Strategy, including its ‘energy dominance,’ defense-industry capacity development, and international partnership efforts with allies,” the report said. “U.S. global nuclear engagement is critical—not only because it supports military needs and advances commercial interests, but also because it brings with it a culture that promotes safety, security of nuclear materials, and nonproliferation.”

The report argues that the United States has a stronger commitment to nuclear safety, security of nuclear materials and non-proliferation than China or Russia. Challenges to U.S. nuclear power leadership could have significant geopolitical and security consequences, the report said.

The report also estimated that approximately two-thirds of the new reactors under construction worldwide use designs from China and Russia.

China offers financing options from its own Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank, and Russia uses resources from the Russian state budget and the Russia Wealth Fund, the paper explains. China and Russia are also investing heavily in the development of advanced commercial nuclear technology.

The U.S. Export-Import Bank’s board of directors, on the other hand, is without a quorum and so cannot consider medium- and long-term transactions exceeding $10 million, which excludes commercial nuclear deals from consideration.

“It’s critical for our industry that, given aggressive overseas, state-owned competitors, we work with the White House and Congress to give American companies the tools they need to compete and win abroad,” Dan Lipman, vice president of supplier, new reactors and international programs at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), said.