The development of nuclear power and the research effort in the Community

The development of nuclear power in the Community is analysed at the light of the oil crisis which hit the world in 1973. Before 1973, nuclear energy was rapidly penetrating the market all over the world: nuclear power plants were being ordered in large numbers and the development of advanced nuclear reactors and of their fuel cycle was vigorously pursued in almost all industrialized countries. In all logic the 1973 oil crisis should have quickened the pace of nuclear energy development; in reality the expected rapid expansion of nuclear energy in the most industrialized countries did not materialize. Despite the setbacks to the global pace of nuclear development, the nuclear energy's share of electricity production in the Community increased from 5.4% in 1973 to 22.4% in 1983. Today the installed nuclear electricity generating capacity is about 55 GWe and the nuclear energy's share exceeds 25%. In 1990 these figures should be about 100 GWe and 35% respectively