The Global Outlook for Nuclear Energy

Although a nuclear renaissance is yet to begin in the United States, an international expansion of civilian nuclear power is already underway.  More than 40 reactors are under construction in 14 countries around the world, and several have announced ambitious plans to expand nuclear capacity in the coming decades.  In addition, rapidly growing demand for electricity has prompted many non-nuclear states to express interest in establishing their own civilian nuclear programs.  Potential for a broad, accelerated expansion of nuclear power internationally should reinforce efforts to ensure plants are safely and securely built, operated, and regulated as well as reduce the risk of weapons proliferation.

This session gauged the outlook for nuclear power internationally and discussed the implications of a potentially broad expansion.  It addressed considerations for newcomer countries in preparing adequate institutional and physical infrastructure to support nuclear power, as well as the roles and responsibilities of various actors in its development.  Also discussed were implications of an expansion of nuclear power on the global nonproliferation regime and approaches that could be taken to strengthen these efforts given common interests of both nuclear and non-nuclear states.

Agenda

Audio (mp3, 00:34:24)
9:00 am – 9:05 am
Welcome and Introduction  

David Pumphrey
Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Energy Program
Center for Strategic & International Studies
 
9:05 am – 9:40 am
The Global Outlook for Nuclear Energy

Janice Dunn Lee
Deputy Director-General
Nuclear Energy Agency, OECD

9:40 am – 9:45 am
Break

Audio (mp3, 01:39:31)

9:45 am – 10:45 am
Addressing the Challenges of Safety, Security and Nonproliferation  

Panel Presentations

Richard Meserve
President
Carnegie Institution for Science – Chair and Moderator  

Carol Kessler
Director
Pacific Northwest Center for Global Security, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Robert Pearce
Director, AP1000 Global Business Development, Westinghouse  

Sharon Squassoni
Senior Associate
Nonproliferation Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace    

Daniel Poneman
Principal
The Scowcroft Group  

10:45 am – 11:10 am
Panel Q&A and Discussion  

11:10 am – 11:15 am
Closing Remarks