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in the same group as France and Japan, showing a determination to rely
increasingly on nuclear power. It also signifies the launching of a
major new nuclear power programme, with a series of standardized plants
of the PWR type.
By the end of July, there were 407 nuclear plants in operation.
Also, the sheer momentum of construction meant that, during last year, 23
new nuclear plants came on line and, during the first seven months of
this year, 11 plants were started. An additional 18 plants are still
planned to come on line this year, but it is unlikely that all of these
will actually do so. These figures have not been influenced by the
Chernobyl accident.
And several new orders have been placed for nuclear
plants since the accident, notably in France (Golfech-2), Japan, the
Republic of Korea (KNU 10 and 11), and the UK (Sizewell B).
U_10
Every sixth kilowatt-hour produced in the world now comes from a
nuclear power plant. To produce the 1500 TWh of electricity which came
from nuclear in 1986 would have required the total coal production of the
USA or the total oil production of Saudi Arabia in 1982, i.e. about 7
million barrels per day. It may be noted in this connection that the
present unused oil production capacity in the world is about 10 million
barrels a day, and about 7 million of this is in the Gulf area.
What then are the factors which will be decisive for the future use
of nuclear power?
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