About Uranium Nuclear Power: Plans for New Reactors Today there are some 440 nuclear power reactors in 31 countries, with a combined capacity of over 364 GWe. In 2003 these provided 2525 billion kWh, over 16% of the world's electricity. About 30 power reactors are currently being constructed in 11 countries (see Table below), notably China, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia. Construction is well-advanced on many of them. Despite this growth, The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) forecasts that the total installed nuclear capacity in 2015 will be little more than that in 2000, - 370 GWe, with the nuclear share of world electricity output decreased from 17% in 1997 to 13% in 2015. Increased Capacity Increased nuclear capacity in some countries is resulting from the uprating of existing plants. This is a highly cost-effective way of bringing on new capacity. Numerous power reactors in USA, Belgium, Sweden and Germany, for example, have had their generating capacity increased. In Switzerland, the capacity of its five reactors has been increased by 12.3%. In the USA the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved 96 uprates since 1977, a few of them "extended uprates" of up to 20%. Spain has a program to add 810 MWe (11%) to its nuclear capacity through upgrading its nine reactors by up to 13%. For instance, the Almarez nuclear plant is being boosted by more than 5% at a cost of US$ 50 million. Some 519 MWe of the increase is already in place. Finland has recently boosted the capacity of the Olkiluoto plant by 23% to 1680 MWe. This plant started with two 660 MWe Swedish BWRs commissioned in 1978 and 1980. It is now licensed to operate to 2018. The Loviisa plant, with two VVER-440 (PWR) reactors, has been uprated by almost 100 MWe (11%). Nuclear Plant Construction Most reactors currently planned are in the Asian region, with fast-growing economies and rapidly-rising electricity demand. At least eight countries with existing nuclear power programs (Finland, France, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Japan and South Korea) have plans to build new power reactors (beyond those now under construction). In addition, there is a program - now stalled - to provide North Korea with two South Korean 1000 MWe PWRs. Of countries without any present nuclear capacity, Iran has construction well advanced on its first unit. In all, some 35 power reactors with a total net capacity of about 37,000 MWe are planned and a similar number are proposed. Rising gas prices and greenhouse constraints on coal have combined to put nuclear power back on the agenda for projected new capacity in both Europe and North America. In Finland, the government has decided to proceed with construction of a fifth reactor, this has been approved by parliament. In Russia, there are five reactors under construction and due for completion by 2010. Five further reactors are then planned to replace some existing plants, and 19 further reactors are planned to add new capacity by 2020. This will increase the country's present 20.8 GWe nuclear power capacity to 50 GWe about 2020. In addition about 5 GW of nuclear thermal capacity is planned. In Ukraine, Khmelnitsky-2 was connected to the grid in August 2004 and Rovno-4 is expected to do so in September. These will replace lost output from Chernobyl. Nuclear power will continue to play a major role in the future electricity supply mix in both South Korea and Japan. In addition to the reactor under construction, South Korea plans to bring a further eight, giving total new capacity of 11,100 MWe, into operation by the year 2015. Ulchin 6, a 1000 MWe Korean Standard Nuclear Plants (KSNP), is due for completion in 2005 and unit 5 was connected to the grid in 2004. Following them are planned Shin-Kori-1 & 2 and Wolsong-5 & 6, to be improved KSNP designs. Then come Shin-Kori-3 & 4, the first of the Advanced PWRs of 1400 MWe, and two more near Ulchin. These APR-1400 designs have evolved from the US System 80+ which has US NRC design certification, and have been known as the Korean Next-Generation Reactor. Cost is expected to be US$ 1400 per kilowatt, falling to $1200/kW in later units with 48 month construction time. Japan has three reactors under construction. It also has plans and, in most cases, designated sites and announced timetables for a further 12 power reactors, totalling over 14,000 MWe, and some of these are undergoing governmental approval. Early in 2001 the major utility Tepco deferred plans for 12 major fossil fuel plants but maintained its schedule for four new nuclear plants. In China, now with nine operating reactors on the mainland, CNNC is well into the next phase of its nuclear power program. Four new reactors started up in 2002, and two more 2003-04. Construction is advanced on two Russian 950 MWe PWRs at Jiangsu Tianwan in Lianyungang. These are expected to start up by 2006, and will to add some 2535 MWe to the present 6587 MWe mainland nuclear capacity. China NNC plans to build eight large new reactors as soon as possible at Lingdong, Qinshan, Sanmen and Yangjiang. It aims to quadruple its nuclear capacity from that operating and under construction by 2020. On Taiwan, Taipower is bujilding two advanced BWRs at Lungmen. India has nine reactors under construction and expected to be completed by 2010. This includes two large Russian reactors and a large prototype fast breeder reactor as part of its strategy to develop a fuel cycle which can utilise thorium. Pakistan has signed a contract with China for a second 300 MWe reactor at Chasma, financed by China. Nuclear power plant construction in Iran was suspended in 1979 but in 1995 Iran signed an agreement with Russia to complete a 1000 MWe PWR at Bushehr. Construction is well advanced and a further unit is planned. Indonesia has completed the feasibility study for its first 1800 MWe nuclear power station This was deferred indefinitely but has lately been revived. Vietnam is also considering its first nuclear power venture. Egypt and Turkey have for decades included a nuclear power plant in their electricity plans. A site has been selected in each country and a number of feasibility and other studies carried out. Turkey however has indefinitely deferred its first plant. Plant Life Extension Most nuclear power plants originally had a nominal design lifetime of up to 40 years, but engineering assessments of many plants over the last decade has established that many can operate longer. In the USA more than 15 reactors have been granted licence renewals which extend their operating lives from the original 40 out to 60 years, and operators of most others are expected to apply for similar extensions. In Japan, plant lifetimes up to 70 years re envisaged. When the oldest commercial nuclear power stations in the world, Calder Hall and Chapelcross in the UK, were built in the 1950s they were very conservatively engineered, though it was assumed that they would have a useful lifetime of only 20-25 years. They were then authorised to operate for 50 years but due to economic factors are closing earlier. Most other Magnox plants are licensed for 40-year lifetimes. The Russian government in 2000 extended the operating lives of the country's 12 oldest reactors from their original 30 years, and recently the extension was quantified as 15 years. The technical and economic feasibility of replacing major reactor components, such as steam generators in PWRs and pressure tubes in CANDU heavy water reactors, has been demonstrated. The possibilities of component replacement and licence renewals extending the lifetimes of existing plants are very attractive to utilities, especially in view of the public acceptance difficulties involved in constructing replacement nuclear capacity. On the other hand, economic, regulatory and political considerations have led to the premature closure of some power reactors, particularly in the United States, where reactor numbers have fallen from 110 to 103. Power Reactors Under Construction Start Operation* Organisation REACTOR TYPE MWe (net)           2004 Ukraine, Energoatom Khmelnitski 2 PWR 950 - started 2004 Ukraine, Energoatom Rovno 4 PWR 950 2004 Russia, Rosenergoatom Kalinin 3 PWR 950 2004 China, CNNC Tianwan 1 PWR 950           2005 South Korea, KHNP Ulchin 6 PWR (KSNP) 950 2005 Japan, Tohoku Higashidori 1 (Tohoku) BWR 1067 2005 China, CNNC Tianwan 2 PWR 950           2006 Iran, AEOI Bushehr 1 PWR 950 2006 Japan, Hokuriku Shika-2 ABWR 1315 2006 India, NPCIL Tarapur 4 PHWR 490 2006 China, Taipower Lungmen 1 ABWR 1300           2007 India, NPCIL Tarapur 3 PHWR 490 2007 India, NPCIL Rawatbhata 5 PHWR 202 2007 Romania, SNN Cernavoda 2 PHWR 650 2007 India, NPCIL Kudankulam 1 PWR 950 2007 India, NPCIL Kaiga 3 PHWR 202 2007 India, NPCIL Kaiga 4 PHWR 202 2007 USA, TVA Browns Ferry 1 BWR 1065 2007 China, Taipower Lungmen 2 ABWR 1300 2007 Russia, Rosenergoatom Volgodonsk-2 PWR 950           2008 India, NPCIL Kudankulam 2 PWR 950 2008 India, NPCIL Rawatbhata 6 PHWR 202 2008 Russia, Rosenergoatom Balakovo 5 PWR 950           2009 Russia, Rosenergoatom Beloyarsk 4 FBR 750 2010 Japan, Hokkaido Tomari 3 PWR 912           2010 Russia, Rosenergoatom Balakovo 6 PWR 950 2010 India, NPCIL Kalpakkam FBR 440 2010 Pakistan, PAEC Chashma 2 PWR 300 2010?? North Korea, KEDO Sinpo 1 PWR (KSNP) 950 * Latest announced year of proposed commercial operation. The World Nuclear Power Reactor table gives a fuller and (for current year) possibly more up to date overview of world reactor status. Some Power Reactors Planned Or On Order start operation start construction   Reactor Type MWe (each)             2008 resumed Argentina, CNEA Atucha 2 PHWR 692 2009 2005 Finland, TVO Olkiluoto-3 PWR 1600 2010-11 2005 Japan, Tepco Fuikishima 7 8 PWR 1325 2008-9 2004? S Korea, KHNP Shin-Kori 1 & 2 PWR (KSNP+) 950 2009-10 2004? S Korea, KHNP Shin-Wolsong 5 & 6 PWR (KSNP+) 950 2014-15 2007 Japan, JAPC Tsuruga 3 4 APWR 1500 2011 2005 Japan, Chugoku Shimane 3 ABWR 1375 2010-11 2005? S Korea, KHNP Shin-Kori 3 & 4 APR (KNGR) 1350 2012 2006 Japan, EPDC Ohma ABWR 1350 2012? 2005 Japan, Tepco Higashidori 1-2 (Tepco) ABWR 1320 2012+ 2007 Japan, Tohoku Higashidori 2 (Tohoku) ABWR 1320 2012 2006? China, CNNC Lingdong 1 2 PWR 1000 2012 2006? China, CNNC Sanmen 1 2 PWR 1000 2015   S Korea, KHNP near Ulchin x2 APR (KNGR) 1350     India, NPCIL Rawatbhata 7 & 8 PHWR 490     India, NPCIL Kaiga 5 6 PHWR 490 dates according to latest announcements Sources:UIC/WNA information papers news reports Nuclear Engineering International, handbook