Are natural resources a blessing or a curse for the development of nuclear energy in times of energy insecurity

Natural resources play a crucial role in shaping countries’ energy structures and long-term energy security strategies. A resource-rich nation doesn’t have to rely on other countries to fulfil its energy and other essential requirements. In today’s world, natural resources are the primary source of energy, as almost 80% of global energy demand is met by fossil fuels. Energy insecurity is another major problem facing the world. However, whether natural resources prove a curse or blessing for nuclear energy production is a research question that has not received much attention in the past. We intend to answer this question by analyzing the impact of natural resources and energy insecurity on nuclear energy generation. The relationship between natural resources, energy insecurity, and nuclear energy production is empirically tested using 2SLS, GMM, and instrumental-variable quantile approaches. The primary outcome of the analysis indicates that natural resource rents harm nuclear energy production. Energy insecurity plays an encouraging role in promoting nuclear energy. Likewise, external conflict also hurts nuclear energy production. In contrast, technological development, financial development, GDP, human capital, R&D, and trade openness foster nuclear energy production. These findings suggest that policymakers should avoid overreliance on natural resources and adopt targeted strategies to enhance energy security and promote the transition to nuclear energy.