From Myths to Megawatts: Bridging Public Fears and Nuclear’s Decarbonisation Potential

Anum A Khan

Anum A Khan is an Associate Director at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) in Islamabad, Pakistan and a former Research Fellow at CTBTO. She is also a Project Associate on a European Research Council funded project at the University of Leicester titled ‘Towards a Third Nuclear Age: Strategic Conventional Weapons and the Next Revolution in the Global Nuclear Order (NUCLEARREV)’. Ms Khan is also a Youth Leaders Fund Mentor at UNODA where she is mentoring mid-career experts on nuclear arms control and disarmament.

Ms Khan brings a wealth of experience in nuclear and strategic issues. Prior to joining CISS, she served for a decade with Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division in the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Branch. She is nearing completion of her Ph.D. in Defence and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and previously held a visiting scholar position at the School of History, Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester, UK.

This interview has been authorised for publication by Anum A Khan.

We thank you, Anum A Khan for accepting our interview with the Saint Pierre International Security Center.

 

SPCIS: In your view, how can nuclear energy accelerate global pathways to net-zero while remaining sensitive to each country’s distinct development priorities?

Anum A Khan: Nuclear power has a greater capacity than any other source of energy to accelerate the global pathways to net-zero. Nuclear energy is the safest and secure form in the energy mix. Nuclear power mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and helps achieve SDG 13. It is so because, it not only produces nearly zero carbon emissions but also helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Furthermore, nuclear energy has the least Global Warming Potential (GWP) among multiple energy supply technologies. There is a nuclear renaissance happening today. Even Germany, the only country which completely rolled back its civil nuclear energy program is bringing nuclear power stations back online. For countries, it helps enhance energy security by further reducing the import of fossil fuel for generating electricity and achieving 11 out of 17 SDG goals directly and indirectly. In nations that are industrialized, it also helps decarbonize power systems to cover high energy demands by producing reliable baseload electricity.

SPCIS: Which cooperative frameworks—regional or international—do you consider most effective for sharing peaceful nuclear technologies that advance both SDG 7 and SDG 13?

Anum A Khan: Peaceful uses of nuclear technology have covered many success stories in distinct fields of agriculture, medicine and industry under IAEA safeguards. The term ‘peaceful’ is not solely meant for energy sector only. It is interesting to note that 11 out of 17 Goals of SDGs are being achieved through use of nuclear energy worldwide. Some examples include nuclear energy used as affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), to combat climate change (SDG 13), for desalination of water (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation), to achieve good health and wellbeing through medical treatments and diagnosis especially of cancer (SDG 3); to create decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) among others.

IAEA’s technical cooperation Program is the main mechanism to share nuclear energy for peaceful purposes with IAEA member states. Developing countries especially Pakistan, under the IAEA framework, are using nuclear technology in almost all relevant areas that include cancer diagnosis and treatment, agriculture, food preservation, water management and industry, combating climate change and its impacts and most importantly for the generation of electricity. Regionally, African Regional Cooperative Agreement (AFRA) and Cooperative Agreement for Arab States in Asia (ARASIA) have been tailored for the national needs of countries in the respective regions. Under these frameworks and as a founding member of the IAEA, Pakistan has helped share expertise and know-how through hosting training programs regarding nuclear science including climate smart agriculture, medicine, and safety and security culture.

SPCIS: Could you highlight recent innovations in nuclear technology that simultaneously strengthen climate resilience and respect national sovereignty?

Anum A Khan: The conversation about civil nuclear technology should not center solely on national sovereignty. Since Eisenhower’s Atom for Peace Program in 1953, creation of the IAEA in 1957 and later the formation of IAEA’s Atom for Development program, there has been a general consensus regarding peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a shared global resource which should be equally accessible to all rather than a tool for geographical exclusivity. Furthermore, for countries in Global South like Pakistan, with growing power requirements, nuclear energy is a viable, clean and dependable option for the foreseeable future. However, expansion of nuclear energy in Pakistan does not go without challenges. These include limited access to global nuclear trade resulting in barriers with regards to nuclear technology. This stems mainly from Pakistan’s exclusion from key export control regimes like the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). These limitations can be eliminated if Pakistan is fully integrated in the international nuclear trade regime through NSG membership. This inclusivity can, thereby, help Pakistan and other countries in Global South reach the full potential of civil nuclear energy, strengthen climate resilience and achieve sustainable development for all.

Regarding the role of evolutionary, innovative and cost-effective nuclear power systems, the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a case in point. On 17 February 2023, during a seminar at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), DG IAEA Rafael Grossi stated that the country [Pakistan] has technical and engineering capacity for new nuclear power plants including SMRs.” SMRs can be used to provide power for remote and off-grid areas, data centers, industrial sites, military bases, desalination plants, district heating and backup for grids. The SMRs are sustainable and cost-effective nuclear energy systems of futuristic technology ss part of a sustainable, future-oriented nuclear energy infrastructure. The developed states need to assist the Global South for climate change mitigation and adaptation. In this context, it is the global interest to ensure that after cost and benefit analysis, the SMRs as innovative nuclear power systems are financed, developed, regulated, resourced and supplied so that climate change or energy poverty is mitigated and does not undermine developing countries’ growth and sustainability.

Another pilot-phase revolution in nuclear energy includes research by US and China among other states on ‘next-gen clean tech radioisotope nuclear batteries.’ These will have over 60% efficiency including a 100 years lifespan with delivering tens of milliwatts making them as a long-term, compact and clean energy source. These portable and sealed batteries could be used for off-grid locations, space missions, micro grids with extremely minimal environmental and carbon footprint. Radioisotope batteries can help power large-scale AI compute needs through edge data centers, undersea data hubs, military or emergency data processing units and disaster-resilient backup systems as well.

SPCIS: How can policymakers balance public concerns around nuclear energy with its potential to deliver rapid, large-scale decarbonisation?

Anum A Khan: Civil nuclear energy is one powerful regulated force burdened by history, misunderstood by many, and overshadowed by myths, despite being one of the safest, cleanest and most efficient energy sources. Also, After baby boomers and Generation X, the future of nuclear energy rests with Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha. For our next generation’s sake, through a holistic multistakeholder approach, policymakers, academia, scientists and technical experts, media, international bodies and civil society need to devise collective global as well as individual national strategies to counter misperceptions regarding nuclear energy. Only by confronting nuclear fears with facts can nuclear energy find its rightful place in a sustainable, decarbonized future for all.