US and UK sign cooperation agreements on nuclear power
SHARE
Image by Phbcz/ iStock
The US and the UK have announced cooperation agreements on nuclear power, focusing on reliable, low-carbon power in an era of soaring demand, during President Trump's visit to London.
The pact has real projects, capital, and strategic implications, according to Range ETFs.
MAJOR PROJECTS ANNOUNCED
Advanced Modular Reactors in Hartlepool
X-Energy (US) and Centrica (UK) will lead plans to deploy up to twelve advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, northeast England.
These units could power 1.5 million homes and create thousands of jobs, making the region a centerpiece of the UK’s new nuclear buildout.
SMRs for Data Centres
A second flagship project involves Holtec International, EDF, and Tritax developing an £11 billion ($14.8 billion) small modular reactor-powered data centre campus at the site of the former Cottam coal plant in central England.
With AI and cloud services consuming ever larger amounts of electricity, pairing nuclear with digital infrastructure highlights the new industrial logic for nuclear deployment.
REGULATORY AND SUPPLY CHAIN COOPERATION
Streamlined Approvals
One of the pact’s most significant features is regulatory recognition.
For the first time, the US and UK nuclear regulators will begin mutual recognition of safety reviews, reduce duplication and potentially cutting licensing timelines nearly in half.
This change addresses one of the largest barriers to global reactor deployment, said Range ETFs .
Fuel and Technology Commitments
The pact extends beyond projects to address critical enablers of deployment.
Urenco, headquartered in the UK, will expand supply of advanced low-enriched uranium to US markets, directly supporting the HALEU supply chain—long recognized as one of the key bottlenecks for next-generation reactors .
At the same time, Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactor design will formally enter the US regulatory process, creating a pathway for transatlantic deployment and cross-market investment.
STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS
•Energy Security: Both governments frame this as a way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and imported energy while ensuring long-term resilience.
•Economic Development: Projects are projected to create tens of thousands of jobs in construction, manufacturing, and operations.
•Tech Alignment: The direct link between nuclear reactors and data centers shows how the AI boom is reshaping power infrastructure.
•Global Competition: Streamlined US-UK standards may set a benchmark for wider international adoption, strengthening Western competitiveness against Russian and Chinese nuclear exports. -OGN/ TradeArabia News Service
