The United States is pressing the World Bank to lift the ban on financing on nuclear projects. The United States is expected to take this step to prevent China and Russia in nuclear diplomacy. This is because these two countries have already invested huge quantities of nuclear power projects in several countries in Africa and Asia. The United States is the biggest partner of the World Bank.
Recently, the US Congress's House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill told the Financial Times that the new US administration would continue to support the financing of the nuclear project. “The United States has support for World Bank President Ajay Banga about lifting the ban,” he said. Under his leadership, the World Bank is renewing nuclear power for developing countries. '
The World Bank has not funded any nuclear project since the 1970s. The World Bank approved the first and last loan in the last and last time in the nuclear project; Which helped the construction of Italy's first nuclear power plant. However, the ban could be lifted within months after a new policy review, sources said.
The reason for the US concern and interest in this regard is that Beijing and Moscow are moving forward in the construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants in Africa and Asia. China's state development banks have surpassed the World Bank in terms of energy projects over the past decade.
At present, most of the 5 new nuclear projects under the world are located in China and other Asian countries.
On the other hand, Russia's nuclear nuclear organization Rosatom has already signed an agreement on nuclear power projects with various countries including Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey.
“Many countries in Europe are interested in expanding nuclear power,” French Hill said. But they are not getting the necessary support from different countries. '
Basically, this is why the US administration has moved on the World Bank's nuclear policy. It is expected that the decision will be held by next August.
French Hill raised a bill for US lobbying last month to lift the World Bank sanctions. “We do not want American nuclear institutions to fall behind because of the World Bank's old policy,” he said.
The World Bank's new power policy review will end in the next few months. It has taken initiative to consider nuclear power as a credible and sustainable energy source.
Analysts say the World Bank lifts the financing of the nuclear power project and it will bring strategic benefits to Western countries, including the United States. This will create new investment opportunities for Africa and Asian countries. However, Germany and some European countries are opposed to this policy, which could affect the World Bank's final decision.
