The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a new licensing process that it says will accelerate reactor deployment and reinforce US energy leadership, marking the first new reactor licensing framework in decades.

The new process, known as Part 53, is designed to make licensing advanced nuclear reactors faster, simpler and more cost-effective while continuing to prioritise safety.

It introduces technology-inclusive safety standards, increased flexibility for reactor design and operation based on risk analyses, graded security requirements, and innovative features to accelerate reactor deployment.