2001 world report: Nuclear power

Last year, 2001, nuclear power plants were available for energy supply and under construction, respectively, in 32 countries. A total of 439 nuclear power plants with an aggregate net power of 354,639 MWe and an aggregate gross power of 372,857 MWe were in operation in 31 countries. Three units with an aggregate 2,445 MWe, i.e. Onagawa 3 in Japan, Rostow 2 in Russia and Qinshan II-1 in China, went critical for the first time or started commercial operation after having been synchronized with the power grid. No plant was permanentely shut down in 2001. Net electricity generation in 2000 amounts to approx. 2,600 TWh, which marks a 100 TWh increase over the preceding year. Since the first generation of electricity from nuclear power 50 years ago in 1951, the cumulated world generation amounts to nearly 42,100 TWh of electricity, and experience in the operation of nuclear power plants has increased to 10,250 years. Last year, 33 plants were under construction in twelve countries. In Finnland, India and the Far East projects for further nuclear power stations are discussed.