International agreement to triple nuclear capacity by 2050

The agreement signed by 22 countries at the Climate Change Conference in Dubai aims to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050, marking a decisive turning point in the fight against global warming.

Share:

Triplement de la capacité nucléaire 2050

The recent signing of a historic commitment by 22 countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, France, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, has opened a new chapter in the fight against climate change. This ambitious agreement aims to triple nuclear power generation capacity by 2050 compared with the base year of 2020, a move unprecedented in the history of nuclear power.

The Commitments of the Signatory Countries

The signatories of the Declaration aim to achieve a global goal of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and to keep the 1.5 degree target within reach. They are committed to supporting the development and construction of nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors and other advanced types, not only for power generation but also for broader industrial applications in decarbonization, such as the production of hydrogen or synthetic fuels.

Involvement of international financial institutions

Participating countries will encourage the World Bank and other international and regional development banks to include nuclear power in their energy lending policies. This decision recognizes the importance of extending the life of existing reactors, and pledges to support “responsible nations” seeking to deploy new generations of civil nuclear power.

Annual Review and Expansion of the Signatory Circle

The participants called on other countries to join the declaration, and announced that they would review the agreement’s progress annually on the sidelines of the COP meetings. Signatories include the United States, Canada, Japan, France, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, as well as several other European and Asian countries.

Nuclear Capacity Projections and Challenges

According to analysts at S&P Global Commodity Insights, global nuclear capacity is set to grow by 58% by 2050. Global nuclear production, which was set to reach 2,545 TWh in 2022, was down 100 TWh on the previous year, mainly due to technical problems in aging French reactors, as well as production cuts in Germany and the impact of the war in Ukraine. However, nuclear power generation in Asia increased by 37 TWh last year.

The Future of Nuclear Energy in the Gulf

The United Arab Emirates has become the first Gulf country to produce nuclear power, with the commissioning of the fourth reactor at the Barakah power plant in November. These units will supply up to 25% of the country’s energy needs, generating 5.6 GW, or almost 40% of the UAE’s peak demand. Saudi Arabia, although currently without nuclear power generation, plans to add around 17 GW of nuclear capacity by 2040.

The global commitment to nuclear power reflected in this historic agreement represents a crucial step towards a more sustainable energy future. With sustained effort and international collaboration, tripling nuclear capacity could play a key role in achieving net-zero emissions targets and combating climate change.

SE Ignalina, the Lithuanian nuclear operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Newcleo to explore the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) using lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology in Lithuania.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oversaw the signing of new agreements for the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, thus strengthening the strategic cooperation between Egypt and Russia.
Vistra Corp receives green light to extend Perry nuclear plant operations in Ohio by 20 years, securing regional electricity supply until 2046 and ensuring operational continuity for all its nuclear reactors in the United States.
EDF will hold a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear project in the UK, a €1.3 billion investment announced during Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to London, confirming the strategic nuclear energy alignment between the two countries.
The French Cigéo project, designed to bury the most hazardous radioactive waste deep underground, obtains a crucial technical validation before its final authorization, expected by the end of 2027.
EDF confirms the continuation of its industrial project in Fessenheim for recycling very low-level radioactive metals, a first in France requiring specific regulatory authorizations, following a public debate concluded last February.
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. formalizes its collaboration with UrAmerica Ltd. to strengthen Argentina’s uranium supply, aiming to secure future nuclear fuel supply chains for the U.S. market.
American companies SHINE Technologies and Standard Nuclear partner to recycle uranium and plutonium, supplying advanced fuel to the nuclear reactor sector and enhancing the national energy security of the United States.
The American Bureau of Shipping and two nuclear sector companies are studying the potential deployment of floating nuclear power plants to meet the energy needs of island and coastal regions in the Mediterranean, notably via electricity and desalination.
Lithuania establishes a working group tasked with assessing the feasibility of modular nuclear reactors to meet electricity demand estimated at 74 TWh by 2050.
Framatome has secured two significant contracts from Electrabel covering modernisation and technical support for the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors, as part of their extension agreed upon between Engie and the Belgian government.
Cairo is stepping up connection works for the planned 4,800 MW El-Dabaa nuclear plant, developed with Rosatom, to feed the grid from 2026 with output equal to about seven % of national electricity.
EDF extends Flamanville EPR's shutdown to August 13 to conduct technical checks on three valves of the reactor's primary circuit, initially scheduled to resume production this week.
The US Department of Energy has selected Westinghouse and Radiant Nuclear to conduct the first nuclear microreactor tests at the DOME experimental centre located in Idaho, with operational start expected in spring 2026.
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Fortum announce partnership aimed at preparing for the potential deployment of small modular reactors in Finland and Sweden, with commissioning scheduled for the 2030s.
Energy Fuels Inc. announced record production of 638,700 pounds of uranium during the second quarter of 2025 at its Pinyon Plain mine in Arizona, significantly surpassing initial site performance forecasts.
Argentina and Peru have signed an agreement expanding their scientific and technological cooperation in the civil nuclear field, including joint research projects and specialised training programmes for future development.
After several decades without funding nuclear projects, the World Bank has formed a strategic partnership with the IAEA to provide technical and financial support to countries integrating nuclear energy into their energy strategies.
South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission officially validates the decommissioning of reactor number one at the Kori plant, initiating an unprecedented project for the national industry scheduled to last until 2037.
Uranium producer enCore Energy surpasses three thousand pounds per day at its Alta Mesa ISR complex and sees three new Texas laws as a strong signal for faster nuclear production permits.