South Korea is among the world's most prominent nuclear energy countries, and exports its technology widely. Today 26 reactors provide about one-third of South Korea's electricity from 26 GWe of plant.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), is pursuing continued operation of the first ten units in South Korea.
Sama Bilbao León, Director General, World Nuclear Association gave an opening speech at the 40th anniversary of the Korea Atomic Power Conference to congratulate Korea Nuclear Association, Korean Atomic Industrial Forum and the entire nuclear industry of South Korea on its great achievements in driving its continued growth and leadership.
There are 26 reactors operating in South Korea, providing more than a quarter of the country's electricity.
There are 25 reactors operating in South Korea, providing more than a quarter of the country's electricity.
South Korea’s environmental and energy security goals have been bolstered by the grid connection its new reactor.
Nuclear Proliferation Case Studies: Iran, North Korea & Iraq - Implications for Safeguards; also South Africa, Israel, Syria and Libya.
A Citizens’ Jury convened in July to determine the future of two reactor projects in South Korea1 has concluded that construction of Shin Kori units 5 and 6 should continue.
On 16 August half of Taiwan was affected by a blackout – some 6.6 million households and businesses – after an unplanned shutdown at a gas plant took the country’s fragile electricity system over the edge. Yet the government is standing by its policy of phasing out nuclear by 2025 and using existing reactors as little as possible.
A ceremony has marked the completion of construction of unit 1 at Barakah , the first nuclear power plant to be constructed in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Agneta Rising, Director General of World Nuclear Association said, “This is an important step towards start-up of the first reactor at Barakah. The UAE will soon benefit from the reliable supply of clean electricity that Barakah will produce.”
The UAE has commenced a nuclear power programme. It accepted a bid from a South Korean consortium to build four commercial nuclear power reactors at Barakah, the first of which was connected to the grid in August 2020.
South Africa has two nuclear reactors generating 5% of its electricity. South Africa's first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in 1984. Government commitment to the future of nuclear energy has been strong, but financial constraints are severe.
Saudi Arabia has plans to establish a civil nuclear power industry.
Ukraine has 15 reactors at four sites, Rovno and Khmelnitski in the west of the country, and South Ukraine and Zaporizhzhia in the south.
Jordan imports most of its energy and seeks greater energy security as well as lower electricity prices. It had been planning to build a 2000 MWe nuclear power plant for operation by 2025, to provide nearly half its electricity, but is now considering the use of small modular reactors instead. Jordan has significant uranium resources, some in phosphorite deposits.
The World Nuclear Association supports the Tentative Findings of the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission that: “South Australia can safely increase its participation in nuclear activities and, by doing so, significantly improve the economic welfare of the South Australian community.”
Improved designs of nuclear power reactors are currently being developed in several countries. Newer advanced reactors now being built have simpler designs which reduce capital cost. They are more fuel efficient and are inherently safer.
Construction of the Bataan nuclear plant in the Philippines commenced in 1976 and was completed in 1984. Following the Chernobyl accident in April 1986, the new President, Corazon Aquino, decided not to commission the 621 MWe Westinghouse reactor. The country is considering reviving the Bataan project, as well as the possibility of a small modular reactor.
South Africa has a single nuclear power plant at Koeberg.
South Africa has a single nuclear power plant at Koeberg.
About 30 countries are actively considering, planning or starting nuclear power programmes.
Vietnam has considered establishing nuclear power generation since 1995, and firm proposals surfaced in 2006. In November 2016 these plans were cancelled.
A large amount of uranium is in rare earths deposits, and may be extracted as a by-product. Higher uranium prices and geopolitical developments would enhance the economic potential for recovering these.
There are three operating uranium mines in Australia: Ranger in Northern Territory, Olympic Dam in South Australia, and Beverley with Four Mile in South Australia. Four Mile has final processing through the Beverley plant.
Niger has two significant uranium mines providing about 5% of world mining output from Africa's highest-grade uranium ores. Niger's first commercial uranium mine began operating in 1971.
Indonesia's population of about 260 million is served by power generation capacity of only about 95 GWe. Indonesia has a greater depth of experience and infrastructure in nuclear technology than any other country in southeast Asia.
Used nuclear fuel has long been reprocessed to extract fissile materials for recycling and to reduce the volume of high-level wastes. New reprocessing technologies are being developed to be deployed in conjunction with fast neutron reactors which will burn all long-lived actinides.
Asia is the main region in the world where electricity generating capacity and specifically nuclear power is growing significantly. The greatest growth in nuclear generation is expected in China.
Romania has two nuclear reactors generating about 20% of its electricity. Romania's first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in 1996 and its second started up in May 2007.
Last week World Nuclear Association attended this year’s Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) conference, an important annual conference addressing energy issues not only for Singapore, but for the south-east Asia region. Read more>
A critical issue for accelerating nuclear power plant construction is the availability of heavy engineering plants to make the reactor components, especially for those units of more than 1100 MWe. There has been considerable new investment in major forges and manufacturing plants.
A statement from World Nuclear Association on developments at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in south-eastern Ukraine,
A statement from World Nuclear Association on developments at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in south-eastern Ukraine,
Nuclear energy is an excellent source of process heat for various industrial applications including desalination, synthetic and unconventional oil production, oil refining, biomass-based ethanol production, and in the future: hydrogen production.
A joint statement by the Canadian Nuclear Association, the Candu Owners Group Inc., Gifen, Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, Nuclear Energy Instiute, nucleareurope, Nuclear Industry Association and World Nuclear Association
Olkiluoto 3, a nuclear reactor sited in south-west Finland, started supplying electricity to the grid at 12:01 today.
Issues Paper Three – Electricity generated from nuclear fuels. Submission from the World Nuclear Association to the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission (August 2015)
Geographical regions used is this report and the countries assigned to them.
Nuclear generation reached a near-record high in 2019, with output reaching 2657 TWh, enough to meet more than 10% of the world’s electricity demand, according to the World Nuclear Association Performance Report 2020, which was published today.
Definition of regional groupings
The report of the South Australia Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission has fundamentally changed the nature of the global nuclear waste discourse.
Nuclear power capacity worldwide is increasing steadily. Most reactors under construction are in the Asian region. Significant further capacity is being created by plant uprating.
The continent of Africa has considerable mineral deposits, including uranium. Exploration and mine development is proceeding in countries which have not hitherto supplied uranium.
Radiotherapy can be used to treat some medical conditions, especially cancer. Tens of millions of nuclear medicine procedures are performed each year, and demand for radioisotopes is increasing rapidly.
There are about 440 commercial nuclear power reactors operable in over 30 countries, with about 400 GWe of total capacity. About 70 more reactors are under construction. Over 50 countries operate a total of about 220 research reactors and a further 180 nuclear reactors power around 140 ships and submarines.
Kazakhstan has 14% of the world's uranium resources. It is the world's leading uranium producer. The government is committed to increased uranium exports, and is considering future options for nuclear power.
Two reactors at Cernavoda supply electricty and, in addition, district heating to the adjacent town of Cernavoda.
National and regional grid systems connecting generators with wholesale customers are just as important as electrical power generation. Investment in these is often on a similar scale to generation capacity.
An overview of key global results, with high resolution images.
Submission from the World Nuclear Association to the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission consultation on management, storage, disposal of nuclear and radioactive waste (July 2015)
Reactor archive December 2024
World Nuclear Association launches a special update to its 2016 World Nuclear Performance Report focusing on developments in Asia.
Opening remarks from our Director General, Sama Bilbao y León.
The Akkuyu nuclear plant, under construction on Turkey's southern coast, will comprise four reactors.
Our submission to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s Energy Strategy sets out the case for including nuclear energy among the energy infrastructure projects that are suitable for AIIB financing and investment. (November 2016)
Reactor Archive March 2016
Reactor archive May 2016
Table of current reactors, those under construction and future reactors envisaged in specific plans and proposals and expected to be operating by 2030. Also current uranium requirements.
Table of current reactors, those under construction and future reactors envisaged in specific plans and proposals and expected to be operating by 2030. Also current uranium requirements.
Table of current reactors, those under construction and future reactors envisaged in specific plans and proposals and expected to be operating by 2030. Also current uranium requirements.
Table of current reactors, those under construction and future reactors envisaged in specific plans and proposals and expected to be operating by 2030. Also current uranium requirements.
Table of current reactors, those under construction and future reactors envisaged in specific plans and proposals and expected to be operating by 2030. Also current uranium requirements.
Reactor Archive November 2016
Reactor Archive January 2017
Reactor Archive March 2017
Reactor Archive May 2017
Reactor Archive July 2017
Reactor Archive December 2017
Reactor Archive February 2018
Reactor Archive August 2018
Reactor Archive November 2018
Reactor Archive November 2018
Reactor Archive April 2018
Reactor Archive September 2017
Reactor Archive March 2016
Amount of electricity generated by nuclear energy and the percentage share of the generation mix by country.
The IAEA DG said that "nothing that happens here will be unnoticed, because the IAEA will be here to support you" during a visit to the South Ukraine NPP
Fast neutron reactors offer the prospect of vastly more efficient use of uranium resources and the ability to burn actinides which are otherwise the long-lived component of high-level nuclear waste. Some 400 reactor-years' experience has been gained in operating them.
Global nuclear electricity generation rose to 2602 TWh in 2023, up from 2544 TWh in 2022, providing 9% of the world’s electricity—second only to hydropower among clean energy sources.
World Nuclear Association launches a special update to its 2017 World Nuclear Performance Report focusing on developments in Asia.
Poland plans to have nuclear power from about 2036 as part of a diverse energy portfolio, moving it away from heavy dependence on coal.
Reactor Archive April 2019
Reactor Archive February 2020
Reactor Archive August 2020
Reactor Archive November 2020
Reactor Archive December 2020
Reactor Archive March 2021
Reactor Archive August 2021
Reactor Archive December 2021
Reactor Archive March 2022
Reactor Archive July 2022
Reactor Archive October 2022
Reactor Archive March 2023
Reactor Archive December 2023
Reactor archive December 2019
Reactor archive October 2019