Nuclear Can Save the Middle East
The Middle East is facing a critical moment, where geopolitics, security threats, and energy dependencies are intersecting, reshaping the region’s future. Developments over the past year, such as the shutdown of Israel’s offshore gas fields due to threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea, underscore the vulnerability of the region's energy infrastructure. Energy security, in this context, is no longer just an economic issue; it is a strategic necessity for national security across the region.
Israel, in particular, finds itself in a precarious situation. Facing threats on multiple fronts Israel is guarding its energy sources while focusing on securing uninterrupted energy supplies. Traditional energy infrastructure, which is centralized and reliant on vulnerable transmission lines, is an easy target in times of conflict. Additionally, control over fossil fuel resources is concentrated in the hands of only a few actors, and with constant threats to delivery routes, countries like Israel remain at the mercy of external forces. This reality underscores the urgent need for energy independence in the region. In a volatile area like the Middle East, energy resilience is not merely a priority but a matter of survival for everyone.
The Case for Distributed, High-Impact Energy Solutions
Given these security challenges, the traditional model of centralized power plants and vast transmission networks is becoming increasingly untenable. Such infrastructures are costly and prone to sabotage. A more resilient approach would involve decentralizing energy production and dispersing power generation across smaller, less vulnerable sites to reduce the risk of mass power outages.
While renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and storage are often recommended as part of this decentralized strategy, they have significant limitations. In the Middle East, large solar fields and wind farms, combined with storage, while promising, still centralize energy production in specific locations, making them vulnerable to attack, physical or cyber. A successful strike on a major solar farm could result in significant energy losses. These farms are likely to affect a larger area with power-outs even if it's just a local failure of equipment or software. In addition, renewables are not going to be enough for the energy demands of 2050 and beyond, distributed or not.
Nuclear Energy: A Practical Solution
This brings us to the potential of nuclear energy, both fission and fusion. Fission, the nuclear technology that has powered energy plants for the past 80 years, works by splitting heavy atomic nuclei to release energy. Fusion, on the other hand, while known for decades and is on its way to commercialization, merges light nuclei to produce even more energy, but without the long-lived radioactive waste or the proliferation risks that fission entails.
When talking about fission we need not discuss the giant Cold War-era fission reactors, but rather advanced technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs based on nuclear fission offer a more flexible, scalable option than traditional nuclear fission plants and come equipped with enhanced safety features that minimize the risks associated with large-scale nuclear fission energy. While SMRs could offer a viable path toward a more resilient energy grid (they are still in their R&D phase), they still face significant hurdles, particularly regarding public perception, radioactive waste, and concerns about safety and security.
The long-term safer opportunity lies in compact fusion reactors. Fusion energy, often described as the holy grail of clean energy, carries none of the long-lived radioactive waste associated with fission and cannot be weaponized. Fusion offers another advantage—its fuel sources, seawater (for Deuterium) and lithium (for Tritium), are globally abundant and not subject to geopolitical control. This ensures that fuel supplies are less reliant on a few, potentially politically unstable regions, or problematic supply chain routes, like the Red Sea for example.
Distributed compact fusion systems, small and highly resilient, could power a network of secure, localized energy hubs throughout the region, above or below ground, and inside or around populated areas, reducing the risk of a large-scale power outage. Fusion technology, although still under development, is expected to become commercially viable by the mid-2030s, so the groundwork must begin now.
Challenges in the Region
Introducing nuclear fission energy to the Middle East is not without its challenges. Saudi Arabia, for instance, has long sought nuclear fission power for two separate but connected goals; first, as part of its broader energy diversification strategy, which includes reducing dependence on oil exports. The second goal is part of a broader geopolitical strategy aimed at preventing Iran from having a monopoly on nuclear fission technology in the region. Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman told CBS in an interview: "Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible." He has repeated his thoughts about the issue in several other interviews as well. This, of course, further complicates the possibility of a peaceful nuclear fission energy development in the region. Moreover, the tense rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran makes traditional nuclear fission energy cooperation difficult, as both nations could view it as a tool for strategic advantage rather than purely a peaceful energy solution.
Against this backdrop, fusion energy stands as the far more viable path forward for the Middle East. By channeling investments and uniting governments and industries behind the shared goal of advancing fusion technology, the region could finally find a force strong enough to overcome its divisions. Fusion offers not just energy but a chance for stability—something precious and rare in a region so often defined by conflict. A Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed, laying the groundwork for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This ambitious project is designed to boost global economic development by enhancing connectivity and fostering economic integration across key regions—linking Asia, the Persian Gulf, and Europe. In many ways, it’s seen as a strategic counterbalance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, positioning the Middle East as a crucial hub in this new global network.
However, the progress on the IMEC has been severely disrupted by the escalation of violence following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. The outbreak of war has not only shaken the region but also cast a shadow over the broader diplomatic and economic efforts associated with the Abraham Accords, which were expected to expand through new agreements between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Some analysts suggest that the timing of the Hamas attack may not have been coincidental, aiming to destabilize these negotiations and halt the forward momentum of projects like IMEC.
To address these challenges, it would be prudent to concentrate efforts on advancing nuclear fusion development in the region. Europe, the UK, the United States, and the Nordic countries have all established specific consortiums and associations dedicated to accelerating the fusion industry in their areas. The Middle East, with its substantial scientific capacity and need for long-term, sustainable energy security, should channel its efforts into fusion technology, and follow suit. A regional fusion initiative could symbolize both a commitment to innovation and a step toward cooperation, uniting disparate nations under a shared goal of energy resilience and security.
A Way Forward: Cooperation Over Conflict
Nuclear fusion presents a unique opportunity for cooperation in the Middle East. The Abraham Accords, which have already established new diplomatic ties in the region, could serve as the foundation for shared fusion energy projects. Countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE could collaborate on common energy goals, transcending traditional rivalries.
Beyond energy security, fusion offers a chance to drive collaboration in academia and industry. Universities and research institutions could push scientific and industrial innovation forward, creating economic pathways that cross borders. A thriving fusion industry, built on joint ventures and transparent operations, would shift the region’s focus from conflict to progress, positioning it as a global leader in clean energy.
This vision of a clean energy hub has the potential to revitalize initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), fostering both regional and global economic integration. For this transformation to succeed, Middle Eastern countries must invest in fusion energy now, laying the groundwork for future energy independence. Recent developments show momentum—Plynth, a new Abu Dhabi government-backed fund, has announced that it will make a strategic investment in fusion technology. Furthermore, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and U.S. President Joe Biden recently agreed on the Partnership to Accelerate Clean Energy (PACE), which includes fusion as well.
By prioritizing fusion, the region could not only break its dependence on oil but also diversify its economies and position itself as a leader in the global transition to sustainable, carbon-free energy. The Middle East could continue to play a central role on the global energy stage, this time as a champion of clean, renewable power.
