NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV, attended the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Civil Nuclear Energy Workshop: Partnering for Implementation, held in London, United Kingdom on 15-16 July 2026. The workshop brought together government officials, industry leaders and international stakeholders from across Europe, Eurasia and beyond to discuss how international partnerships can support the deployment of nuclear energy projects. Director-General Magwood provided keynote remarks at the beginning of the workshop, and later shared during a fireside chat with Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute.
Discussions focused on one of the central challenges currently facing the nuclear sector: translating political ambitions and policy commitments into concrete projects, successful construction programmes and reliable sources of clean electricity. Participants highlighted the importance of practical implementation strategies, financing mechanisms, and international co-operation in helping countries advance their nuclear energy programmes.
During the workshop, the NEA Director-General emphasised that the future success of nuclear energy will depend not only on long-term strategies and commitments but also on the ability to deliver projects on time, connect reactors to the grid and provide tangible benefits to societies.
A key example discussed during the event was USTDA's support for Poland's first nuclear power plant. Participants highlighted how international partnerships supported the project from its early development stages through to major financing agreements: spanning from its front-end engineering and design (FEED) grant to Westinghouse and Bechtel to the recent Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) financing agreement with Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ). The project was presented as an example of how newcomer countries can combine technical expertise, financing and international co-operation to advance nuclear deployment.
Meeting with Ukraine's Ministry of Energy
On the margins of the workshop, Director-General Magwood met with Igor Ivanov, Director of Nuclear Energy and Atomic Industry at Ukraine's Ministry of Energy.
Their discussion focused on nuclear safety, the future development of Ukraine's nuc lear programme and long-term challenges of spent fuel management and decommissioning. These areas are expected to play an important role in shaping Ukraine's energy system in the years ahead.
Director-General Magwood noted that Ukraine's experience offers valuable lessons on energy resilience during times of armed conflict. Ukraine's ability to maintain the safe operation of nuclear facilities amid the ongoing war demonstrates remarkable resilience and reflects the importance of safety, security and regulatory frameworks under extreme conditions. This experience provides unprecedented insights for broader international discussions on energy security, crisis preparedness and resilience in nuclear energy during periods of uncertainty.
Through participation in international events and related exchanges, the NEA continues to support dialogue among governments, industry and international organisations, helping advance co-operation for the deployment of nuclear energy and the development of resilient, secure and sustainable energy systems.
