23 Jul (NucNet): The chief executive officer of US-based Lightbridge, which is developing next generation nuclear fuel technology, says he disagrees with president Donald Trump on climate change and US nuclear technology is needed worldwide “as a direct result of the need for non-emitting forms of energy”.
Seth Grae told Fox Business in an interview posted on the Lightbridge website that climate change is “a real driver for our industry and our company”. He said countries like India and China needs nuclear to deal with “choking pollution”.
He also said there is a job applicant shortage in the industry and “we are racing to fill some jobs”.
“We are seeing the administration really step up now and private-public partnerships that are helping with training,” Mr Grae said during the interview.
He said the US Department of Energy is leading the way in supporting companies that are training and employing millennials, from specialised welders in nuclear power to scientists and engineers and “just throughout the industry”.
He said: “The administration, more than any other government in the world, is putting new funding sources behind new, advanced nuclear energy technologies that will bring this industry forward.”
Lightbridge develops proprietary next generation nuclear fuel technologies for current and future reactors. In January 2018, Lightbridge and Framatome of France formed a 50-50 joint venture, Enfission, to develop, licence, manufacture, and sell nuclear fuel assemblies based on Lightbridge-designed metallic fuel technology and other advanced nuclear fuel intellectual property.
