U.S. authorities confer on prospective deployment of miniature nuclear reactors for future energy provision, emphasizing a peaceful approach
In a push for international collaboration on green energy, the Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE) recently held a conference with U.S. diplomats, energy specialists, and local institutions to delve into the possibilities of setting up a nuclear power station using small modular reactors (SMRs).
The gathering, presided over by Engineer Hamed Abel, a KSE board member, brought together heavyweights such as Justin B. Friedman, Senior Advisor for Nuclear Energy Trade Competitiveness at the U.S. Department of State; Brad Stilwell, Economic Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait; and Shaima Ibrahim, Cultural Exchange Program Specialist. Representatives from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), and Abdullah Al-Salem University were in attendance, according to Al-Rai daily.
Justin Friedman showcased the U.S. administration's initiatives to expedite the worldwide implementation of sophisticated nuclear reactor technologies for peaceful purposes.
He underscored the significance of SMRs in offering a clean, dependable energy source to address Kuwait's long-term energy needs.
Brad Stilwell concurred, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Kuwait partnership in this strategic domain, particularly given both nations' shared objectives of strengthening energy security and promoting environmental sustainability.
Engineer Abel pointed out that this dialogue is part of an extended joint initiative between the KSE and the U.S. Embassy, focused on sharing expertise on Kuwait's future energy strategies. He underscored that peaceful nuclear energy offers a promising and workable solution to diversify the country's energy portfolio, promote sustainable development, and counter climate challenges.
He further noted that the KSE remains dedicated to fostering discussions between local and foreign stakeholders to explore innovative, environment-friendly energy solutions. The commencement of these initiatives aligns with Kuwait's long-term vision in energy, environmental conservation, and economic resilience.
As of mid-June 2025, discussions between the KSE and U.S. officials on the establishment of a peaceful nuclear power plant using SMRs are under active consideration. The discussions highlight the potential of SMRs as a viable and sustainable solution to tackle Kuwait's future energy requirements[1][2].
Although no formal agreements or explicit timelines for deployment have been announced yet, the dialogues suggest a shared interest and continuous collaboration between KSE and the U.S. Embassy to investigate nuclear energy innovations for peaceful purposes[1].
[1] Enrichment Data: Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE) and U.S. officials are presently in the discussion stages, exploring the feasibility and benefits of SMRs to tackle Kuwait's future energy challenges. The primary focus is on harnessing SMRs to address long-term energy needs while ensuring environmental and economic sustainability.
[2] Enrichment Data: The ongoing discussions represent a mutual interest and ongoing cooperation between KSE and the U.S. Embassy to investigate nuclear energy developments for peaceful purposes. No formal agreements or defined deployment timelines have yet been made public, but the dialogue underlines a vision for exploring nuclear energy innovations in pursuit of sustainability goals.
- The discussions between the Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE) and U.S. officials are focusing on environmental science, particularly the implementation of small modular reactors (SMRs) for peaceful purposes, which could be a viable and sustainable solution to address Kuwait's climate-change and long-term energy needs.
- The collaboration between the KSE and the U.S. Embassy extends beyond this conference, as they are jointly exploring innovative, environment-friendly energy solutions in the field of environmental-science, with a goal to counter climate-change and promote environmental sustainability.
- The potential establishment of a nuclear power station using SMRs could lead to significant advancements in energy and finance, as it would offer a clean, dependable energy source while contributing to Kuwait's economic resilience and energy security.
