Asia projected as a long-term nuclear energy powerhouse

China, South Korea, India using green energy source to meet rising electricity demands

Japan may still be feeling the Fukushima effect, but the rest of Asia is clearly sold on nuclear energy.

With 128 operable nuclear power reactors, 40 under construction and 90 more planned, Asia is the world’s primary market for nuclear power well into the future, with many countries in the region viewing the green energy source as the most logical way to keep up with rising demands for electricity.

“Asia is the main region in the world where electricity generating capacity—and, specifically, nuclear power—is growing significantly,” says the World Nuclear Association.

In the wake of the 2011 Fukushima meltdown, energy policies were modified in some countries, including Japan—where the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) recently terminated a uranium supply contract, citing restrictive government regulations.

However, the region—led by China, South Korea and India—is still expected to embrace nuclear power for the long term.

Numbers from the World Nuclear Association indicate:

• China, already producing 7% of the world’s nuclear power, has 24 reactors under construction and 40 more planned, with a target of 150 gigawatts (GW) in 2030—up from the present-day 26.9 GW;
• India expects to nearly triple its nuclear output, from 5.3 to 15 GW by 2020;

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