Rumours of a nuclear power renaissance have been greatly exaggerated. So says an audit of the nuclear power industry released on Wednesday.
The report, commissioned by The Greens, a European parliamentary group, points out that many ageing reactors are due to close before 2030, and that 338 new ones would have to be built just to replace them.
鈥淭he world has five fewer nuclear reactors operating today than it did in 2002鈥�
Advertisement
The Paris-based nuclear consultants who compiled the report argue that the industry is growing too slowly to meet this target, and may even be shrinking. The world has five fewer reactors operating today than it did in 2002, they say. Only 91 reactors are now being planned, and a further 32 are under construction, mostly in Asia and eastern Europe. Construction work on 11 of those has been under way for 20 years or more.
The idea that nuclear power is about to experience major growth is 鈥減ure fantasy鈥�, says the report鈥檚 author, Mycle Schneider. The industry is facing 鈥渁 dramatic loss of competence, sceptical financial markets and the severe shortage of manufacturing capacity鈥�, he says.
The Nuclear Age 鈥� Learn more about all things nuclear in our explosive .
