The United States will “take no shortcuts on safety” when it comes to accelerated deployment of new U.S. nuclear technology, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Monday at the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria.
“We want the world to know that when you engage in civil nuclear cooperation with the United States, you are getting U.S. technology that meets first-class nonproliferation standards and U.S. nuclear safety culture,” Wright said in his prepared statement.
President Donald Trump administration’s has prioritized nuclear power as highlighted by Trump’s four nuclear-related executive orders to accelerate sector growth.
While the United States has made efforts to streamline nuclear licensing domestically, it has been working with other ally countries to develop nuclear technology. Wright doubled down that U.S. nuclear technology will be safe to use as the country streamlines its processes. “We [the United States] will not accept anything less than fully safe nuclear design and operation,” Wright said.
Some Trump critics have questioned the administration’s safety commitment, given its efforts to overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the firing of Commissioner Chris Hanson.
As part of its nuclear energy agenda, the United States has been actively working to develop new peaceful nuclear cooperation deals, or 123 Agreements, Wright said.
Since the last IAEA General Conference in September 2024, the United States entered into new 123 Agreements with Thailand and Singapore.
Wright added the country has also been working on intergovernmental agreements on civil nuclear cooperation. The agreements between two or more governments could focus on installing full-size or small modular reactors to help with energy security among its ally countries, Wright said.
In April, U.S. companies Westinghouse and Bechtel agreed to work with the Polish company PEJ to bring Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor to Poland as a part of an intergovernmental agreement.
“Through these agreements, the United States will continue to support the integration of nuclear safeguards, U.S. nuclear safety culture, and security into countries’ national legal and regulatory frameworks,” Wright said.