"Globally, nuclear power looks set to continue to grow steadily, although more slowly than we expected before the Fukushima Daiichi accident," says the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
Delivering the Indian Nuclear Society Silver Jubilee lecture in Mumbai, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano said prediction in the wake of the Fukushima accident that nuclear power would go into decline was proving wrong.
There are 437 operating nuclear power reactors in the world today. The latest IAEA projections, based on Member-States' input, suggest that number could increase by 80 or 90 in the next 20 years. It could even double, Amano said while speaking on 'IAEA Perspectives on Future of Nuclear Energy.'
At the moment, there are 66 new reactors under construction, including seven in India. Other major users of nuclear power such as China and Russia also have significant expansion plans.
A number of countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria, Poland, Turkey and Vietnam, have taken the decision to go for nuclear power. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has started building a nuclear power plant, the first new country to do so for 27 years.
Amano, who was recently re-elected for a second term as IAEA chief, said nuclear power could help reduce the impact of volatile fossil fuel prices and mitigate the effects of climate change. It can make a vitally important contribution to growth for a rapidly developing economy like India, according to him.
He said other sources of energy were not in a position to provide the amounts of reliable base-load electricity which a modern economy needs 24 hours a day.
Referring to protests against construction of new nuclear power plants in India, Amano said "winning back confidence in nuclear power after Fukushima Daiichi will take time. It will also require an unwavering commitment to safety, as well as openness and transparency by operators, regulators and governments."
He said the world's first deep geological repositories for nuclear spent fuel are expected to become operational after 2020.
Noting that India is in the forefront of technological development in the nuclear sector, especially in the area of fast reactors and related fuel cycles, Amano said fast reactors were important for the long-term sustainability of nuclear power, and would reduce the volume and toxicity of the final waste.
He commented India's remarkable success in the field of peaceful nuclear technology, which he said was "an inspiration for many developing countries."
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Political News
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.