Industry supports reversal of failed phaseout policies ahead of G7 Summit in Germany.
G7 leaders should support extending the operating life of nuclear reactors for as long as possible and support the restart of other operable reactors to cut fossil fuel use in the current crisis, according to representatives of the nuclear industry globally.
The heads of the Canadian Nuclear Association, Japan Atomic Industries Forum, Nuclear Europe (EU), Nuclear Energy Institute (US), Nuclear Industry Association (UK), and the World Nuclear Association have also called on G7 leaders to:
- Include nuclear energy in green financing frameworks
- Raise national nuclear capacity targets in future energy mixes
- Support the development of small and advanced nuclear technologies
The trade bodies have pointed out that, according to the International Energy Agency, extending the operating life of existing reactors is the lowest cost method of securing additional low-carbon electricity generation. Moreover, nuclear power is the only clean, reliable and sovereign source of electricity currently available.
Since G7 countries represent around half of the world’s existing nuclear capacity and have dozens of reactors either idled or threatened with early closure, they have a critical role to play in driving nuclear investment and output to reduce global dependency on coal and gas.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said:
“Nuclear phaseouts have been strategic, economic, and environmental catastrophes. G7 countries should chart a new path by maximising output from our existing nuclear plants and ‘green labelling” new nuclear construction to cut gas use and strengthen global energy security.”
Notes to editors
- G7 countries have approximately 212 GW of operable nuclear capacity.
- Germany is due to retire its last three operable reactors at the end of 2022.
- Italy is the only G7 country without nuclear power, and the only country to have completed a nuclear phaseout.
- The UK has six generating (6.9 GW) nuclear power stations, providing around 16% of the country’s electricity, but all but one station will retire by 2028.
- The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) confirms that nuclear has the lowest lifecycle carbon of all technologies and the lowest land use and lowest mineral and metal use of all low carbon technologies.
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