Mon, 15 Sep 2025

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 UK and US unveil nuclear energy deal ahead of Trump visit

Key among the plans is a proposal to build up to 12 advanced modular nuclear reactors in Hartlepool.

* The UK and US are set to sign an agreement on accelerating nuclear power development, aiming to generate thousands of jobs and strengthen Britain's energy security.
* The deal, known as the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, seeks to halve the time it takes to gain regulatory approval for new nuclear projects from 4 years to 2.
* The partnership will allow companies to use safety checks in one country to support work in the other, speeding up the development process.
* Plans include building small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs), with the UK's Centrica partnering with US firm X-Energy on a project that could power 1.5 million homes and create 2,500 jobs.
* The deal is expected to unlock billions in private investment and is seen as a key step towards achieving the UK's goal of tripling its nuclear capacity by 2050.
* However, critics, including Greenpeace, have raised concerns about the cost and environmental impact of new nuclear projects, with some warning that they could lead to higher bills and more CO2 emissions.
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