In June, Yemen signed its first-ever Country Programme Framework (CPF) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Representing Yemen at the public announcement was Mr. Haytham Adbulmomen Hassan Shoja’aadin, Resident Representative of the Republic of Yemen to the IAEA.
Mr. Shoja’aadin reinforced this partnership with the IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, Mr. Hua Liu. The agreement sets both parties on a path of a five-year working relationship in the CPF, focusing on advancing Yemen’s national nuclear energy development goals.
A New Atomic Era for Yemen
The 2024 agreement will mark the beginning of a new era of atomic restructuring and economic growth in the Republic of Yemen. The focus will be on the national economic and infrastructural goals for Yemen; it lays out a plan to implement “nuclear technology and technical cooperation resources” where possible.
The 2024-2029 CPF will primarily work in five key areas of Yemeni development:
- Nuclear science and technology;
- Water resources and environment;
- Health and nutrition;
- Food and agriculture;
- Nuclear and radiation safety.Â
There are currently 178 IAEA member states, with the majority — including the world’s economic powerhouses — signing on in 1957. Such a positive step wasn’t possible for Yemen before, given the republic’s internal conflicts, with the most recent civil war starting in 2014.Â
Yemen’s Clean Atomic Record
Yemen’s atomic energy ambitions have existed since it became an IAEA member in 1994.
Yemen also boasts other nuclear-related achievements, such as a pristine nuclear non-proliferation record. Yemen has never pursued a nuclear weapons program. Additionally, the republic has ratified the International Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
Most of the world today has some link to an atomic energy framework, with involvement ranging from moderate to highly integrated. Naturally, the countries that signed their CPF earlier are highly industrialized G20 nation-states.
The Big Nuclear Players
The Nuclear Energy Institute lists the top nuclear energy-producing countries in 2023. Leading the pack in gigawatt hour generation (GWh) are:Â
- The United States, with 779,186 GWh;
- China, with 406,484 GWh;
- France, with 323,773 GWh;
- Russia, with 203,957 GWh;
- South Korea, with 171,649 GWh.
Although these numbers represent total GWh produced, the share of nuclear electricity in the total varies:
- France has nearly 65% nuclear electricity;
- Slovakia follows with 61%;
- Hungary stands at 49%;
- Finland’s nuclear energy accounts for 42% of all electricity;
- Belgium holds 41% of nuclear-generated electricity.Â
While the outlook seems promising for Europe, Yemen’s new agreement signifies an upswing in atomic energy prospects for developing nations.
Some organizations, like Brookings in 2012, argued that the developing world has no choice but to venture into nuclear development. With Western nations debating net-zero policies and environmental cleanliness, emerging countries have little alternative.
A Balancing Act for Developing Nations?
In the modern globalized world, the developed nations face a somewhat unfair dual responsibility to meet their energy demands and maintain their international standing. Those aspiring to sit at the table with their G20 peers must now incorporate clean nuclear power to fulfill global warming mitigation targets.
George Smeeton elaborates in an Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) report from 2018 on how developed nations can participate. The Paris Agreement’s objective to achieve a 1.5°C global warming cap sees zero global carbon emissions as the only viable solution. Most countries aim to peak by the 2050s. “For developing nations,” Smeeton notes, “that may mean the 2050s or 2060s.”
Nuclear Energy Challenges
The World Nuclear Association (WNA) advocates for the economic advantages of a reliable nuclear power program, but acknowledges the obstacles in introducing nuclear energy to any country.
There are numerous economic benefits to establishing a nuclear energy program, including:Â
- In the absence of cheaper fossil fuels, nuclear power is a cost-efficient way to generate electricity.
- While the initial capital required for nuclear power plants exceeds that for fossil fuel-based plants, fuel expenses are a minor component of operations.Â
- Nuclear plant system costs are lower than those of other “intermittent renewables.”
However, there are evident drawbacks overall:Â
- Nuclear power station construction often exceeds budget due to underestimated delivery costs.
- Waste disposal and decommissioning costs are commonly excluded from the overall costs of nuclear plants.
- Finding investment for a long-term return on a high-capital infrastructure project poses challenges.
How Atomic Energy Stimulates Economies
A positive outlook for developing nations emerges from a 2022 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) review. The “Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy Future” (NICE Future) paper outlines the long-term economic benefits of nuclear energy production.
Referring to data from an IAEA study, the NREL report emphasizes that countries looking to join nuclear programs may experience slower employment growth initially due to the need to import expertise, technology, and equipment. Nonetheless, the subsequent job creation and resulting revenues typically lead to an additional 0.2% to 0.3% GDP growth.
In the Discussion
Yemen is one of several developing countries to engage in a CPF with the IAEA, following the lead of other nations such as Cabo Verde, Guinea, and The Gambia in 2023. While the future of renewable energy may vary for each country, atomic energy is expected to be a prominent topic of discussion globally.