NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby Remarks at 2nd Nuclear Power Industry Congress

Dzien dobry, good morning, everyone, it’s a pleasure to be here today at the 2^nd Nuclear Power Industry Congress. I want to thank the Congress organizers for the invitation.

As the Administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, my team and I have the responsibility for three core missions: the U.S. nuclear deterrent, nuclear nonproliferation and counterterrorism, and naval nuclear propulsion. We work closely with our colleagues in the Department of Energy’s nuclear energy organization on nuclear power technology and fuel supply. 

During the last three years, the significant and rapid developments in the nuclear deterrence landscape have been especially concerning. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus are particularly egregious examples of the norm-breaking, destabilizing behavior we are confronting today.

Furthermore, while we have always considered nuclear war an existential threat, today we are also confronting climate change as a second existential threat. To combat climate change while increasing energy supply and security, countries around the world, including the United States and Poland, have increased interest in growing nuclear power production. The numbers are revealing. A year ago, the IAEA released its annual report on nuclear power projections through 2050 indicating that nuclear generating capacity could rise as much as 140% by mid-century. And at last year’s COP28 climate talks, 25 nations, including the United States and Poland, signed a pledge to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. I know Poland has made nuclear generation a key part of its 2040 energy plan. And in the United States, the Department of Energy has indicated we will require an additional 200 gigawatts of nuclear generating capacity by 2050 to meet our own zero-carbon energy goals.

Beyond the numbers, we are also likely to see new reactor types introduced. In the coming years and decades, large-scale nuclear power plants will likely co-exist with small modular reactors and advanced reactors. The new, smaller reactors may be better solutions in some locations and situations, like providing power to lower-density populations and decarbonizing energy-intensive industries. Here in Poland, they could be especially useful for metal refining, chemical production, and district heating, just to name a few examples. These smaller-scale plants may fit more seamlessly with other zero-carbon energy sources, provide added resilience to energy grids, and require less capital investment. 

The evolving nuclear energy landscape presents both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, we support the need for nuclear power. President Biden, President Duda, U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm, and Prime Minister Tusk have been clear and consistent on that. We cannot afford to turn our back on realistic and necessary options to meet national and global climate goals, and nuclear power can serve as a robust and reliable source of baseload zero-carbon electricity. At the same time, many of the current and planned nuclear power plants will be built in countries that don’t currently have any nuclear power and some of the countries lack the institutional capacity and technical expertise to adopt and implement the stringent safeguards and security measures necessary to keep nuclear facilities, material, and expertise safe. It is our responsibility as leaders in the global community to help this transition with training and knowledge transfer.

The expansion concerns are exacerbated by current Russian and Chinese dominance in the global nuclear industry. Of the 61 reactors currently under construction worldwide, China is building 27 of them. Just a few weeks ago, China approved the construction of 11 additional reactors, setting it up to become the largest producer of nuclear power by 2030. Meanwhile, a 2022 report from the IAEA noted that 27 of the 31 reactors that have begun construction since 2018 are of Russian or Chinese design. Finally, Russia continues to hold a dominant position in the nuclear fuel industry, supplying a significant portion of the international market, particularly for high assay low enriched uranium, or HALEU. The Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia, and its clear willingness to use energy as a form of coercion, should raise concerns about Russian-designed facilities, dependence on Russian fuel, and vulnerability to sabotage and control.

To take advantage of the promise of nuclear energy while managing the risks, the United States is working to expand the reach of facilities and fuel designed and produced domestically and by allies or partners. Working with the Departments of State, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and others, NNSA is making key contributions to streamline our civil nuclear cooperation agreements while maintaining the highest possible safeguards, security, and nonproliferation measures. We are also a key partner in revitalizing uranium mining and processing in the United States. By addressing gaps in the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain, we will assure the supply of fuel for today’s and tomorrow’s fleets, both in the United States and with our allies and partners. 

I noted previously that a lot of countries seeking nuclear power today are doing so for the first time. NNSA works with such countries to build capacity and competency so that nuclear power can be adopted in a safe, secure, and responsible manner. We champion international best practices, including those outlined in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, as well as the IAEA’s standards for nuclear safeguards and security. For example, we worked with the United Arab Emirates to train their university students on a lifecycle approach to nuclear power.

Growing U.S.-Polish cooperation on civil nuclear power is a prime example of responsible nuclear adoption and places Poland at the center of the nuclear renaissance in Central and Eastern Europe. Poland and the United States enjoy a deep and longstanding friendship and historical commitment to shared values and international norms. We have long been security allies; this year marked Poland’s 25^th anniversary of its accession to NATO. Now we see opportunities to tie our nations even more closely together in economic development and energy security. Both Poland and the United States know that energy security is national security, and our two nations will stand shoulder to shoulder in both. Our relationship is now a linchpin of stability in Eastern and Central Europe. 

For example, in April the Department of Energy launched the world’s first regional Clean Energy Training Center right here in Warsaw. This center will serve Poland and Central Europe as a training hub for countries considering new or expanded nuclear reactor development by providing training, technical expertise, and capacity building to help develop sustainable nuclear power programs. The first training session was held at Warsaw Technical University in cooperation with the Poland Ministry of Climate & Environment and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and we are looking forward to more successful training events going forward. I can speak from firsthand experience in saying that the foundation of a sustainable nuclear program is workforce recruitment, development, and retention. The United States and NNSA are working across the nation to invest in the next generation of physicists, chemists, engineers, welders, electricians, carpenters – the list goes on – to build a pipeline of talent to support our own civil and defense nuclear industries, and I encourage all of you here to work on doing the same.

I also want to take a moment and commend Poland on its strong cooperation with the IAEA. The successful completion of the Phase 2 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review demonstrates Poland’s commitment to responsible nuclear power development and sets an example for other countries. It’s no wonder the report highlighted multiple areas where Poland’s nuclear plans could serve as an example to other countries. Thank you for leading the way.

And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant. The selection of Westinghouse and Bechtel for the first three reactors to be built in Poland will tie our two nations even more closely together, strengthen Polish and regional energy independence, and demonstrate to other nations that may be struggling with decisions on their own nuclear program that economic development does not require being beholden to coercive Russian energy practices. With over 3,700 megawatts of combined generating capacity, these first three AP-1000 reactors will be one of the largest clean energy projects in European history, making an incredible contribution to securing a clean energy supply. Hopefully, the eventual construction of six reactors outlined in the Intergovernmental Agreement will solidify Polish regional and global leadership on nuclear energy.

Poland also deserves credit for the speed and sophistication of its small modular reactor deployment program. The partnership between OSGE and GE-Hitachi for their BWRX3000 reactors will establish an early and enduring leadership role for Poland in small modular reactor deployment in Europe.

Finally, I want to touch again on Ukraine. The United States and Poland have been clear throughout this conflict that we are committed to supporting the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. We have worked side by side to deliver support for the brave people of Ukraine, and to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are also profoundly grateful for Poland’s compassion and humanity in accepting over a million Ukrainian refugees. Their hope lives on because of you. A unity of purpose has been critical to our collective efforts to support Ukraine, and Poland’s role has been and continues to be absolutely vital.

It partners like Poland that give me with confidence that we can fight authoritarianism, secure our energy futures, and improve the lives of our children and grandchildren. Thank you for being such a great partner with the United States.