Charles Ebinger, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Energy Security and Climate Initiative

There are several technical, institutional and geopolitical challenges facing an expanded nuclear industry in the twenty-first century. This article addresses some of the security concerns that are linked to the expansion of nuclear power in the world. Given that more and more states are going to have access to sensitive nuclear technology and material, the security concerns surrounding nuclear energy are bound to increase. However, in the absence of a satisfactory nuclear waste management solution and adequate regulatory protocols, a large-scale expansion of the civil nuclear sector will present significant security challenges. The adaptation of the fuel cycle to incorporate reprocessed spent nuclear fuel presents perhaps the most serious concern owing to the inherent relationship between reprocessing and nuclear proliferation. Of equal concern is the fact that existing international regimes are inadequate to deal with civilian nuclear-related issues in the twenty-first century.