Following a policy change allowing the US International Development Finance Corporation to finance nuclear projects abroad, the Department of Energy is already in talks with potential countries such as Kenya and Ghana looking to develop their own nuclear energy programs, the DOE’s assistant secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy Rita Baranwal told Morning Consult in an interview.

On 23 July the DFC finalised a change to its environmental and social policy and procedures, which would allow the development bank to invest in nuclear power projects.

This came after an initial 30-day public notice period and more than 800 comments. By the DFC’s own calculations, more than 98% of the comments were in support of the change.

“What we were struggling with up until this point was offering attractive financing packages to countries that want to procure US technology and that century-long relationship,” Ms Baranwal said.