A total of 438 nuclear power plants were operating around the world at the end of 2000, according to data reported to the IAEA’s Power Reactor Information System. The plants had a total net installed capacity of 351 GW(e). Also during 2000, six nuclear power plants representing 3056 MW(e) net electric capacity were connected to the grid, one in Brazil, one in the Czech Republic, three in India and one in Pakistan.
Additionally, construction of three new nuclear reactors started in 2000 — one in China and two in Japan, bringing the total number of nuclear reactors reported as being under construction to 31.
Nuclear power provides about 16% of global electricity, with about 83% of nuclear capacity concentrated in industrialized countries. The ten countries with the highest reliance on nuclear power in 2000 were: France, 76.4%; Lithuania, 73.7%; Belgium, 56.8%; Slovak Republic, 53.4%; Ukraine, 47.3%; Bulgaria, 45%; Hungary, 42.2%; Republic of Korea, 40.7%; Sweden, 39% and Switzerland, 38.2%. In total, 17 countries relied upon nuclear power plants to supply at least a quarter of their total electricity needs.
In North America, where 118 reactors supply about 20% of electricity in the United States and 12% in Canada, the number of operating reactors has declined slightly. In Western Europe, with 150 reactors, overall capacity is likely to remain at or near existing levels in the coming years. In Central/Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States, with 68 reactors, a few partially built plants are likely to be completed, while aging units are being shut down. Only in the Middle East, Far East and South Asia, with a total of 94 reactors at present, are there clear plans for expanding nuclear power, particularly in China, India, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
Worldwide in 2000, total nuclear generated electricity increased to 2447.53 terawatt-hours. Cumulative worldwide operating experience from civil nuclear power reactors at the end of 2000 exceeded 9800 reactor-years.
A table showing the electricity supplied by nuclear power reactors in 2000 and the respective percentage of electricity produced by nuclear energy is available here.
For updated information, see the PRIS Database.