A Global Vision to Triple Nuclear Capacity by 2050
At World Atomic Week 2025, held in Moscow from 25-28 September, the global nuclear community convened around a shared mission: to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy and underpin energy security, climate goals and sustainable development. The forum attracted over 20,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including governments, industry players, financiers, youth leaders and newcomer nations.
Reaffirming the Case for Nuclear
In her keynote addresses, Dr Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of World Nuclear Association (WNA), underscored the urgency and opportunity for nuclear expansion. She highlighted that 2024 marked a record year for nuclear electricity generation, illustrating renewed momentum in the sector. While leading nuclear nations such as China, India, the United States and Russia continue to drive growth, the most significant expansion potential lies in emerging markets and newcomer countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Latin America.
Central to WNA’s vision is the objective to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050. Bilbao y León emphasised that this is not merely a numerical ambition, but a call for unlocking the full power of nuclear through innovation, de-risked financing, capacity building, equitable supply chains, and global partnerships.
Financing: A Crucial Enabler
Day one of World Atomic Week included the first Global Atomic Forum, in which Heads of State and Ministers from Egypt, Iran, Myanmar, Belarus, Russia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Niger and Uzbekistan exchanged with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y Leon on accelerating the growth of nuclear energy globally.
A dominant theme throughout the Forum was the need to rethink how nuclear projects are financed. President Vladimir Putin, articulated that building new nuclear capacity demands "significant resources" and said new financing models are essential—models that equitably allocate risk and reward among states, investors and consumers. He also advocated for involving international financial institutions and development banks in nuclear deployment.
He framed nuclear energy as a tool of sovereign development, rejecting “technological colonialism” and arguing that partnerships should help nations build local nuclear industrial and technical capacity rather than creating dependence on foreign suppliers.
Read more at World Nuclear News
This message resonated strongly with many delegates from countries in the Global South and Emerging Markets, where access to capital is often a limiting factor. The Forum underscored that without new or hybrid financing structures—such as public-private risk-sharing, guarantee instruments, and concessional debt—many projects will remain unviable.
Uzbekistan: Bridging SMRs and Large-Scale Reactors
One of the week’s major announcements during World Atomic Week came from Uzbekistan, which confirmed plans to build a hybrid nuclear power plant in Jizzakh. The project will combine two VVER-1000 reactors with two 55 MW RITM-200N small modular reactors (SMRs) on a single site.
The move marks a shift from earlier plans focused solely on SMRs, reflecting a strategy that blends proven gigawatt-scale technology with modular units to enhance flexibility and cost effectiveness. With design work expected to be completed in 2025 and construction targeted to begin in 2026, Uzbekistan is among the first nations to co-deploy SMRs and large reactors, potentially offering a model for others.
Read more at World Nuclear News.
Fuel, Supply Chains and Industry Unity
Panel sessions at World Atomic Week also examined the challenges and opportunities within the nuclear fuel cycle. The recently published World Nuclear Fuel Report was a focal point, highlighting persistent gaps in uranium production capacity, regional imbalances in enrichment services, and supply vulnerabilities. The Association’s role in mapping these gaps and facilitating international cooperation was reinforced.
Multilateral Momentum and Next Steps
The World Atomic Week agenda included the first Conference of the BRICS Nuclear Platform, reflecting a renewed emphasis on multilateral cooperation. In remarks at the BRICS conference, Bilbao y León lauded the convergent priorities of BRICS nations in clean energy, and recognized Russia, China and India’s leadership in technology development, deployment and strategic planning.
She urged that the tripling goal be viewed not just as a cumulative statistic, but as a rallying point for collaboration, innovation, capacity development and inclusive growth—one that demands contributions not just from established players, but from every stakeholder across government, industry and finance.
Beyond power generation, Bilbao y León also spoke to nuclear’s broader relevance, including roles in medical isotopes, space propulsion, desalination, hydrogen production, and other non-electric applications. Interviews and media engagements with delegations from Türkiye, India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Indonesia highlighted regionally tailored pathways and opportunities for collaborative deployment.
Bilbao y León’s participation at World Atomic Week 2025 reinforced the global nuclear industry’s leadership in advocating for a bold and inclusive nuclear future. Her message was one of optimism and urgency: at least tripling nuclear capacity is achievable, but it requires united action, visionary leadership, and a commitment to delivering clean, reliable energy for all.
