Nuclear, the summit of 57 countries in Paris to relaunch civil use

Emmanuel Macron hosts a Paris around forty representatives from different countries for the second summit dedicated to the relaunch of civil nuclear powerpresented as leverage for the energy sovereignty. In a context marked by war in the Middle Eastwhich underlines the fragility of economies dependent on fossil fuelsi G7 energy ministers will meet at 1.45 pm in the capital to address the issue ofsurge in oil prices.

Organized by Francewhich with 57 reactors is one of the main ones civilian nuclear powers in the world, the summit brings together around forty countries and international organizations, including representatives of United States e China – the main historical players in the sector. Following its inaugural edition in Brussels in 2024, the summit, organized in collaboration with theInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)will open in 2026, the year marked by the 15th anniversary ofFukushima accident and from the 40th of Chernobyl disaster.

Nuclear objectives and financing

The objective is to “identify the practical measures necessary” to achieve one revival of nuclear energy “safe and accessible to all“, addressing in particular the thorny issue of financing. The question is crucial given the specific nature of nuclear programsoften delayed and expensive. “To develop all these projects around the world, we need private actors“, as well as public fundingsuch as those of the main multilateral development banks such as World Bankinsists the Elysée, which intends to give this issue a absolute priority.

The European strategy and COP28

Paris wants this summit to represent a political “step forward” compared to the declaration of COP28 in Dubaiwhich aims to triple nuclear capacity installed by 2050. About thirty countries have already signed the agreement and France hopes that other states will approve this roadmap. It is also expected that theEuropean Union reveal your strategy to accelerate the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Europe, with the aim of a initial commercialization by 2030.

Global rebirth and European challenges

Bruxelles fears being surpassed by China and the United States and would like to encourage startup europee to join forces to speed up the process. Fallen into disgrace after the 2011 Japanese nuclear disasterthe sector is experiencing a revival of interest worldwidedriven by concerns about energy sovereigntyfrom the need to decarbonize energy to fight the climate change and the rise ofartificial intelligencewhich consumes a lot of energy.

The current role and growing interest

Today the nuclear represents the 10% of global electricity productioncon 450 reactors in around thirty countries. But “forty other nations have expressed strong interest” in recent years in revival of nuclear energy or in building its own nuclear industries, he said Rafael GrossiGeneral Director ofDebt. “It’s in the interest of European countriesfor theirs energy security and sovereigntyfurther develop theirs renewable energy – solar, wind and others – and encourage strong revival of nuclear energy“he stressed Fatih BirolExecutive Director ofInternational Energy Agency (IEA).

Future challenges and prospects

“Il global geopolitical context and the crescents geoeconomic tensionsas demonstrated by current events in Middle Eastpush us to review our energy models, which we must be able to combine decarbonisation, employment e energy sovereignty“, claims the French President in the summit presentation materials. However, recapturing a golden era of nuclear energy like that of the 1970s and 1980s will require overcoming “important challenges“, including “industrial capacity, cost and time control, access to financing, security of fuel supply chains e human skills“, he emphasizes Clement Le Royenergy expert at Wavestone.