Nuclear energy policy

Nuclear energy policy is national and internationalchange.
policy concerning some or all aspects of nuclearIn 1999 the countries that relied most on nuclear
energy, such as mining for nuclear fuel, extractionenergy were France (with 75 % of its electricity
and processing of nuclear fuel from the ore,generated by nuclear power stations), Lithuania (73
generating electricity by nuclear power, enriching and%), Belgium (58 %), Bulgaria, Slovakia and Sweden
storing spent nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel(47 %), Ukraine (44 %) and South Korea (43 %).
reprocessing.The largest producer of nuclear capacity was the
Nuclear energy policies often include the regulation ofUSA with 28 % of worldwide capacity, followed by
energy use and standards relating to the nuclear fuelFrance (18 %) and Japan (12 %) [2]. In 2000, there
cycle. Other measures include efficiency standards,were 438 commercial nuclear generating units
safety regulations, emission standards, fiscal policies,throughout the world, with a total capacity of about
and legislation on energy trading, transport of nuclear351 gigawatts.
waste and contaminated materials, and their storage.According to IAEA, nuclear power is projected to
Governments might subsidize nuclear energy andincrease to 17% share of the world's electricity
arrange international treaties and trade agreementsproduction by 2020. They predict 60 new plants will
about the import and export of nuclear technology,be installed over the next 15 years .
electricity, nuclear waste, and uranium.Policy options
Since nuclear energy and nuclear weaponsAfter a period of decline in the use of nuclear
technologies are closely related, military aspirationstechnology following the 1979 Three Mile Island
can act as a factor in energy policy decisions. Theaccident and the 1986 incident at Chernobyl, there
fear of nuclear proliferation influences somehas more lately been renewed interest in nuclear
international nuclear energy policies.energy. Some policymakers have returned to the
The global picture'nuclear option' because they see it as potentially able
The status of nuclear power globally. Nations in darkto address dwindling global oil reserves and global
green have reactors and are constructing newwarming with less greenhouse gas emissions than
reactors, those in light green are constructing theirfossil fuel.
first reactor, those in dark yellow are consideringFor some countries, nuclear power affords energy
new reactors, those in light yellow are consideringindependence. In the words of the French, "We have
their first reactor, those in blue have reactors but areno coal, we have no oil, we have no gas, we have
not constructing or decommissioning, those in lightno choice." Nuclear power has been relatively
blue are considering decommissioning and those in redunaffected by embargoes, and uranium is mined in
have decommissioned all their commercial reactors.reliable countries, including Australia and Canada[5][6].
The status of nuclear power globally. Nations in darkNuclear power also has a high energy return on
green have reactors and are constructing newenergy investment. Using life cycle analysis, it takes 4
reactors, those in light green are constructing theirto 5 months of energy production from the nuclear
first reactor, those in dark yellow are consideringplant to fully pay back the initial energy investment[7].
new reactors, those in light yellow are consideringBut policymakers must also balance their decisions so
their first reactor, those in blue have reactors but arethat the concerns surrounding nuclear power are
not constructing or decommissioning, those in lightaddressed. These include the problem of storing
blue are considering decommissioning and those in redradioactive waste for indefinite periods, the potential
have decommissioned all their commercial reactors.for severe radioactive contamination by accident or
Installed nuclear capacity rose relatively quickly sincesabotage, and the possibility that its use could in
the 1950s, but since the late 1980s capacity has risensome countries lead to the proliferation of nuclear
much more slowly, reaching 366 GW in 2005, primarilyweapons.
due to Chinese expansion of nuclear power. BetweenProponents, including some national governments,
around 1970 and 1990, more than 50 GW of capacityclaim that these risks are small and can be lessened
was under construction (peaking at over 150 GW inwith new technology. They note that France and all
the late 70s and early 80s).of the industrialised economies of Asia see nuclear
The growth slowed in the 1980s because ofpower as a key economic strategy, that the safety
environmentalist opposition, high interest rates, andrecord is already good when compared to other
energy conservation prompted by the oil shock inenergy forms, that it releases much less pollution
1973, the energy crisis in 1979 and the Three Milethan coal power, and that nuclear power is a
Island accident and Chernobyl disaster. In 1983 ansustainable energy source.
unexpected fall in fossil fuel prices stopped most newOpponents, including some national governments and
construction of nuclear power plants. Electricitymany environmental groups, claim nuclear power is an
liberalization in the United States and Europe duringuneconomic, unsound and potentially dangerous
the 1980s and 1990s increased the financial risk ofenergy source and dispute whether the costs and
investing in nuclear power. More than two-thirds of allrisks can be reduced through new technology. They
nuclear plants ordered after January 1970 werenote that Germany and Australia are commercializing
eventually cancelled..renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies
Nuclear power plants, however, do not directly(see Renewable energy in Germany and Renewable
generate any greenhouse gases, some governmentsenergy commercialization in Australia).
have therefore returned to nuclear power as part ofOthers claim that nuclear power is a renewable
their strategies on tackling global warming and climatesource of energy