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Although my task is not to talk about development in general, I
wanted to start with the general perspective, because rapid development
requires energy. I am aware, of course, that the statistics of the last
decade show that GDP and energy consumption no longer travel in tandem.
Nevertheless, very fast growth
A better use of energy explains this.
calls for growing energy consumption.
For example, in Japan, the growth
in primary energy consumption between 1973 and 1985 was 11%, and the
growth in electricity demand was 46%. So the demand for energy, and
especially electricity, is still growing, and may grow even faster in the
future when the easiest conservation measures have been taken.
Already today, nuclear power is playing an important and growing
role in this region as a means of satisfying electricity needs. Japan
already has 25 800 MW (e) of nuclear capacity in operation, and plans
62 000 MW (e) of nuclear capacity for the year 2000. The Republic of
Korea has 5 400 MW (e) in operation and China is constructing its first
nuclear power plants. This is encouraging.
The picture of nuclear power in the world, however, is very mixed.
There are those
in various countries
who oppose nuclear power
with a religious fervour, who claim that nuclear power is on its way
out. And there are journalists who like to make headlines out of every
nuclear problem, however small. Reference is often made to cancellations
of orders for nuclear power plants, to the paucity of new orders and to
political problems related to nuclear power in several countries. I
would like to submit, however, that the reports about the death of
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