Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Challenges in nuclear energy adoption: Why nuclear energy newcomer countries put nuclear power programs on hold?

  • Philseo Kim (Liu Institute for Global Issues, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia) ;
  • Hanna Yasmine (Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) ;
  • Man-Sung Yim (Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) ;
  • Sunil S. Chirayath (Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives, Texas A&M University)
  • Received : 2023.09.22
  • Accepted : 2023.11.12
  • Published : 2024.04.25
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Abstract

The pressing need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions has stimulated a renewed interest in nuclear energy worldwide. However, while numerous countries have shown interest in nuclear power over the course of history, many of them have not continued their pursuit and chosen to defer or abandon their peaceful nuclear power projects. Scrapping a national nuclear power program after making initial efforts implies significant challenges in such a course or a waste of national resources. Therefore, this study aims to identify the crucial factors that influence a country's decision to terminate or hold off its peaceful nuclear power programs. Our empirical analyses demonstrate that major nuclear accidents and leadership changes are significant factors that lead countries to terminate or defer their nuclear power programs. Additionally, we highlight that domestic politics (democracy), lack of military alliance with major nuclear suppliers, low electricity demand, and national energy security environments (energy import, crude oil price) can hamper a country's possibility of regaining interest in a nuclear power program after it has been scrapped, suspended, or deferred. The findings of this study have significant implications for policymakers and stakeholders in the energy sector as they strive to balance the competing demands of energy security, and environmental sustainability.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the Stanton Foundation for their support, as this work was conducted during the fellowship provided by them to Texas A&M University. Yim also acknowledges the financial support from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2022M2C7A1A02063817).

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