Nuclear energy in the age of digitization: The role of mineral resources and financial development

Nuclear energy is a low-carbon and reliable energy source, and enhancing its production is crucial for achieving a sustainable global future. The deployment of nuclear energy requires a massive initial investment. Lack of financial capital is considered the biggest hurdle in developing nuclear power plants. In addition, digital and information technologies and mineral resources could also prove vital in a transition towards a low-carbon energy framework. Against this backdrop, the analysis intends to investigate the influence of financial development, information and communication technologies, and mineral resources on nuclear energy production. The study employs the MMQR estimation approach to obtain robust estimates. The results indicate that financial development and digitalization enhance nuclear energy generation at most quantiles. Conversely, mineral resources adversely affect nuclear energy production at lower and middle quantiles. In addition, the control variables of government expenditure, trade, and CO2 emissions favorably impact nuclear energy production.