The United Kingdom is investing almost £17 billion by 2030 in its nuclear new-build programme, described as its most ambitious for a generation. This commitment was outlined in the UK's National Statement at the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 2026 General Conference.
Minister Michael Shanks stated that Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C exemplify the value of replication, with each projected to power six million homes for at least 60 years. Sizewell C is expected to benefit from Hinkley's experience.
Furthermore, the UK has allocated £2.6 billion to its small modular reactor (SMR) programme. This initiative aims to use design replication and factory fabrication to transform delivery, with nearly £900 million in SMR supply-chain contracts intended to boost UK capability and support international markets.
The UK is also establishing a first-of-a-kind enrichment facility for High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) as part of its HALEU Programme. This facility is intended to enable developers of Generation IV reactors to invest with confidence and secure a fuel supply for both domestic and overseas markets.
The UK emphasised the need for international regulation to keep pace with nuclear innovation, advocating for rigorous, proportionate, and forward-looking assurance. The country is modernising its own regulation to improve effectiveness and proportionality while maintaining high safety, security, and safeguards standards.