India, China to see growth in nuke energy sector: IAEA

VIENNA: Notwithstanding the Fukushima nuclear accident, International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) feels that the "continuous and significant growth" in the global atomic sector would largely be driven by countries like India and China.

Noting that following the nuke accident in Japan, there was speculation that the expansion in interest in nuclear power, as seen in recent years could come to an end, IAEA Director General (DG) Yukiya Amano said, it is clear that there will, in fact, be "continuous and significant growth" in the use of nuclear power in the next two decades.

He however admitted that the growth would be at a slower rate than in the agency's previous projections.

"We expect the number of operating nuclear reactors in the world to increase by about 90 by 2030, in our low projection, or by around 350, in our high projection, from the current total of 432 reactors.

"Most of the growth will occur in countries that already have operating nuclear power plants, such as China and India," he said at the opening of the 55th IAEA General Conference yesterday.

The DG also admitted the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan has caused deep "public anxiety throughout the world and damaged confidence in nuclear power."