1979 the average load factor of the nuclear power plants then in
operation was only 61%, which gave cause for grave concern. This overall
average has now risen to 70%. But it is perhaps more significant that
today 55% of the world's 400 power reactors are operating with more than
75% availability and producing their full nominal power. We have also
seen from our statistics how many utilities and very often smaller but
highly qualified ones year after year maintain a very high
availability of more than 80%. It is clear that such good performance
has not been achieved while sacrificing safety; on the contrary, it has
often been achieved through greater attention to quality in operation anu
maintenance after the Three Mile Island accident. The question then must
be now to achieve such a standard of excellence in construction and
operation everywhere. To do this, it will certainly be necessary to
break the traditional isolation of the electric utilities and promote a
much more intensive and broader exchange of experience.
One factor which favours nuclear power, in the view of many
countries, is its contribution to energy independence. In advanced
countries, advanced technology for energy production can reduce the need
for energy imports. Even countries which have to import nuclear
technology and fuel can --
years.
as many indeed do stock fuel for several
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Now to the developing countries. The introduction of nuclear power
in these countries has been slow. I mentioned that 16% of the world's
electricity comes from nuclear power, but in the developing countries it
is only 3.5% and we see only a slow increase to some 6% in 2000. This
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