Two speakers during this week’s three-day Nuclear Energy Institute’s (NEI) Industry Conference and Supplier Expo in Washington, D.C., predicted that nuclear-energy use would increase in the future.
William Magwood, director general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency, and Stefan Selig, undersecretary for international trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce said nuclear energy will have an important role in national and global energy sectors.
“This is no ordinary time for the civil nuclear energy field,” Selig said, noting that nuclear energy is expected to expand in five of seven economic zones. Asia, he said, will produce up to 45 percent of global nuclear generating capacity by 2030, up from 15 percent five years ago. Nuclear energy ensures energy security for the countries that adopt it, he said, adding that those countries recognize that they cannot meet their growing energy needs and simultaneously reduce carbon dioxide emissions without it.
Selig called for reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, the loss of which, Selig said, could cost the U.S. approximately $27 billion.
“Direct loans, loan guarantees or credit assurance (from the Ex-Im
Bank) are especially important for small and medium enterprises, which
make up a critical segment of the nuclear supply chain.”
Magwood said the U.S. plays an important role in the international community on nuclear energy issues, on top of being a major exporter of nuclear energy goods and services.
