The European continent is facing a historic turning point in energy policy, as successive geopolitical crises, the latest of which is the war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have reopened the debate about reviving nuclear energy as an inevitable strategic necessity.
According to a report published by Africanews, the topic of energy sovereignty is strongly back on the table in Brussels to counter high electricity bills and ensure independence.
Price crisis and geopolitical pressures
The sharp rise in energy prices as a result of Middle East tensions has exposed the weakening of Europe's dependence on imports, with Eurostat data indicating that the EU still imports more than 50% of its energy needs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at the Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, described the previous abandonment of nuclear power as a "strategic mistake" and stressed the need for a reliable, low-emission source.
National Transformations and Major Projects
European positions vary, but the general trend tends to be expansionary, according to global news agencies such as the Associated Press (AP):
France: Leading the nuclear locomotive with 65% of its electricity in nuclear production, plans to build 6 new EPR reactors.
Germany: Despite the closure of its reactors in 2023, Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the move as a "grave mistake", amid a shift towards small reactor technologies.
International momentum: The United States and Japan recently announced a $40 billion project to develop SMR reactors, boosting global orientation toward the technology.
The Future of Small Reactors and Artificial Intelligence
Modular small reactors (SMRs) are emerging as a resilient future solution, especially with the massive demand for energy from AI data centers growing. In its eighth demonstration nuclear programme, the European Commission expects investments of up to €241 billion by 2050 to raise total nuclear capacity.
Existing challenges
Despite this momentum, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stressed that the full integration of nuclear energy has become a necessity, but it is not without challenges, most notably nuclear waste management, the high cost of construction, and continued reliance on Russian technology and fuel, which represents a strategic risk that must be addressed.