Review of emerging markets for nuclear power

Nuclear power already provides a significant proportion of the electricity generated worldwide. World energy demand driven by population growth and economic development will be over 50% higher in 2020 than in 1990. More and more of this energy is being provided as electricity. World demand for electricity will double by 2020, reaching 22,700 TWh compared with 11, 490 TWh in 1990. Firm construction plans for nuclear power stations in practice cover the first 15 years of this period. Over that time worldwide nuclear capacity will only expand by about 20%. Much of this expansion will occur in the emerging markets whose energy needs are expanding at a fast rate because of their positions in the development cycle, and a larger role for nuclear power would not only be desirable but inevitable if these countries take the aims of the 1992 Rio Convention on Climate Change seriously. The paper reviews present plans for nuclear power in the emerging markets including those countries which at present do not have nuclear power but consider it a serious option for the future. It will consider the financial implications. (author) 13 refs., 2 tabs., 2 figs