United Nations: India is planning a 15-fold increase in its civilian nuclear power programme in the next two decades, the UN's nuclear watchdog said on Thursday.
In its latest report titled 'Year in Review 2008', the
International Atomic Energy Agency said while no new reactors
came online anywhere last year, construction started on 10 new
sites. Six of the 10 construction sites were in China.
This is the largest number in any one year since 1985,
bringing the total number being built to 44. At the end of
last year, 438 nuclear power reactors were supplying roughly
14 per cent of the world's electricity.
Expansion prospects continue to be centred in Asia, with
over half of the reactors under construction in the region,
especially in China and India, Vienna-based IAEA said.
"India's planned 15-fold expansion of its civilian
nuclear power programme over the next two decades is expected
to be facilitated by the removal by suppliers in 2008 of
restrictions on the supply of nuclear technology that were
previously imposed on it," the report said.
The report will be discussed by member states at the
IAEA's annual General Conference this September.
"While every country has the right to use nuclear power
as an energy source, it also has the responsibility to ensure
that this energy source is employed in a safe and secure
manner," it said, adding that it received a large number of
requests last year from countries considering the nuclear
energy option for assistance in analysing energy options.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, August 13, 2009, 23:50