WHAT'S IN THE INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR ENERGY ACT OF 2025
Tucked within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was just passed in the Senate today is a new law titled the “International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025” (the Act) which aims to boost United States engagement in the international civil nuclear energy sector through global partnerships, financing, and collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by establishing multiple working groups, resource centers, and internationally-available grants for embarking civil nuclear nations (nations that do not have a civil nuclear energy program, but are in the process of developing or expanding civil nuclear energy programs).
Working Groups
The Act establishes two working groups, the Nuclear Exports Working Group, and Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group. The Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group will support parts of projects relating to civil nuclear technology, microprocessors, and strategic investments. This working group will also provide input on the feasibility of establishing a more permanent program to support strategically important capital-intensive infrastructure projects related to civil nuclear energy.
The Nuclear Exports Working Group will monitor the status of civil nuclear exports and will both establish and carry out a 10-year civil nuclear trade strategy. Included in the requirements for a 10-year strategy are:
Assisting the IAEA to expand the support provided to embarking civil nuclear nations
Coordinate efforts to expand outreach to the private investment community, and with the Import-Export Bank of the US
Establish public-private financing relationships
International Reach
The Act aims to promote the United States’ position in the international nuclear industry by renegotiating and renewing agreements for cooperation established in Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act that are scheduled to expire within 10 years. The Act implements a joint assessment between the US and India on nuclear reliability rules and aims to discuss opportunities for India to align under domestic nuclear liability rules.
Further, the President is given the directive to host biennial conferences with international partners centered on civil nuclear safety, security, safeguards, sustainability, nonproliferation and environmental safeguards, and local community engagement. These conferences also aim to provide partner nations with alternatives to Chinese or Russian financing of civil nuclear projects and encourage the changing internal policies of multinational development banks to support civil nuclear projects.
The Act intends to promote US nuclear energy in nations where ROSATOM is present, and to provide a pathway to end US reliance on the Russian nuclear energy sector. Amending the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Act shifts focus to cooperate with countries developing nuclear energy programs that have increased cooperation with Russia and China to promote utilization of US nuclear energy companies’ reactors, fuel, equipment, etc., and authorizes appropriations up to $15,500,000 to carry this out.
Resources and Financing
The Act establishes International Civil Nuclear Program Support, an international initiative to provide financial assistance to and to facilitate the building of technological capacities to the development of civil nuclear programs. This support program will provide grants up to $5,500,000 to embarking civil nuclear nations to contract with a US nuclear energy company to develop and build capacity of civil nuclear energy programs. Nations are eligible for up to one grant per fiscal year and may be awarded no more than five total per nation. Eligible grant activities include developing financing relationships, developing standardized licensing framework for light water and non-light water civil nuclear technologies, advanced nuclear reactors, stakeholder engagement, management of spent nuclear fuel and waste, and other associated activities. Between fiscal years 2026 and 2030, $50,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State to carry out this program.
The President is given the discretion to create the Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center which will identify qualified organizations and service providers to develop a standardized model for the establishment of a civil nuclear program to be used by the IAEA. The group will also coordinate with countries participating in the center and with the Nuclear Exports Working Group to identify funds, provide market analysis, and foster the safety, security, safeguards, nuclear governance, and support multinational standards required for civil nuclear programs.