IAEA Director General Says 50 Nations Contemplating Nuclear Power Generation

Source: Mineweb  (10/20/08)

The world's energy consumption is forecast to grow about 50% by 2030 with electrical use doubling globally and tripling in developing countries, according to the International Energy Agency. Nuclear energy is still expected to account for about 14% of global electricity generated in 2030...


The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that "no fewer than 50 countries have informed the IAEA that they are considering introducing nuclear power." In a speech marking the 50th anniversary of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the IAEA, said 12 nations, including Turkey, Egypt, Vietnam and Nigeria, " are actively preparing nuclear energy programs."

"China is constructing six power reactors and expects its installed capacity to increase five-fold by 2020. Russia plans to add at least 26 new large reactors between now and 2020, plus 10 smaller units, more than doubling its nuclear capacity. India is building six reactors and aims to increase its installed capacity eight-fold by 2022," he said.

The world's energy consumption is forecast to grow about 50% by 2030 with electrical use doubling globally and tripling in developing countries, according to the International Energy Agency. Nuclear energy is still expected to account for about 14% of global electricity generated in 2030...

ElBaradei noted that public attitudes toward nuclear power have been come positive in the past 10 years. However, he added, "concern about waste will remain until the first final repository for high-level waste is operational. Naturally, we can never be complacent. A single nuclear accident anywhere in the world could severely undermine the prospects for nuclear energy everywhere."

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