•  Sweden and the USA signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in civil nuclear energy, focusing on policy, research, and technological development.
• Key areas of collaboration include nuclear reactors, advanced nuclear fuel, waste management, and safety, with both countries sharing scientific, technical, and regulatory information.
• This agreement supports Sweden’s pro-nuclear policy shift, aiming for significant new nuclear capacity by 2045, and strengthens ties between the two nations.

On August 1, in Washington, DC, Sweden’s Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, and US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on civil nuclear energy. This agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between the government bodies, enterprises, and research institutions of both countries, focusing on policies and research and development activities related to nuclear energy.

The MoU emphasizes the exchange of experience in various critical areas, including policy development, research, and innovation. It aims to address supply chain challenges, financing models, skills development, and the advancement of nuclear fuel technologies. Key technological areas of cooperation highlighted in the agreement include nuclear power reactors, such as small modular reactors, advanced nuclear fuel development, nuclear waste management, and nuclear safety and security.

To facilitate this cooperation, Sweden and the USA will exchange publicly available scientific and technical information and share their experiences with policies and regulations. The MoU also aims to develop best practices for ensuring energy security and meeting the demand for nuclear energy technologies. Additionally, it promotes dialogue, networking, and cooperation among government representatives, enterprises, and research institutions through various activities like visits, workshops, and meetings.

Busch expressed optimism about the agreement, stating that cooperation on nuclear power would benefit both Sweden and the United States, enhancing the labor market and competitiveness. She highlighted the longstanding and positive relations between the two countries and looked forward to strengthening their collaboration and knowledge exchange in nuclear power. Granholm echoed these sentiments, noting that the agreement would diversify supply chains, improve nuclear fuel supply, deploy new reactors, and find solutions for managing spent nuclear fuel.

This agreement aligns with Sweden’s recent shift towards a more positive stance on nuclear energy. In October 2022, Sweden’s incoming center-right coalition government adopted a pro-nuclear policy. In November of the same year, they unveiled a roadmap envisioning the construction of new nuclear generating capacity equivalent to at least two large-scale reactors by 2035, with the potential for up to ten new large-scale reactors by 2045.

Overall, the MoU between Sweden and the USA represents a significant step forward in advancing nuclear energy technologies and strengthening the cooperation between the two nations in this critical field.