LONDON, July 26: Strong expansion of nuclear power as a carbon-free energy source in Asia is expected to press ahead despite the Fukushima accident in Japan that soured sentiment in some countries, a benchmark report said today.
An earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima plant in February 2011, leading to the closure of Japan’s 50 reactors and spurring Germany to pledge to close all of its nuclear reactors by 2022.
Nuclear energy had been gaining momentum as an energy source for nations seeking to reduce harmful carbon emissions, but the Japanese accident caused second thoughts in some countries.
World nuclear capacity is, however, expected to grow by 44 per cent to 99 per cent by 2035, according to a biennial report from the United Nations nuclear body and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
This was little changed from the range of growth of 37 percent to 110 per cent in the edition two years ago of the report on uranium resources, production and demand, known as the “Red Book.”
“We see it as a speed bump,” said Gary Dyck, head of nuclear fuel cycle and materials at the International Atomic Energy Agency, referring to the long-term impact of the Fukushima accident on the global nuclear industry. “We still expect huge growth in China.”
ASIAN EXPANSION
Nuclear capacity is due to expand in East Asia by 125 per cent to 185 per cent by 2035, the report said. The strongest growth is expected in China, India, South Korea and Russia.
This low end of the range does not include any prospect that Japan ends up banning nuclear energy, said one of the authors of the report, Robert Vance, an official with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.
(AGENCIES)
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