Nuclear power could more than triple by 2060, UN agency says

The head of the U.N. nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi, anticipates that the utilization of nuclear power could more than triple by 2060, according to his annual report to the U.N. General Assembly. This surge in nuclear power usage is anticipated to be fueled by increased electrification, data centers powered by artificial intelligence, and the growing appetite for reliable, carbon-free power from technology companies.

Grossi emphasized that nuclear energy is considered a vital component for enhancing energy security by an increasing number of countries, emphasizing that it is as safe as solar energy and stands on par with it. By 2025, more than 400 operating reactors in over 30 countries generated 10% of the global electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon electricity.

Over 60 new reactors are currently under construction, leading to a significant upward shift in projections for future nuclear capacity. Grossi also addressed the nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, discussing the unprecedented threats to nuclear safety arising from the war in Ukraine, and reported worrying instances of other countries potentially acquiring nuclear weapons.

In Iran, the necessary technical groundwork for a diplomatic agreement has been accomplished, and Grossi urged U.N. member nations to intensify their efforts towards reaching a diplomatic solution that includes the IAEA's crucial verification role. In North Korea, whose nuclear program operates under no IAEA oversight, Grossi cautioned that it serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when red lines are crossed, violating U.N.

Security Council resolutions that ban nuclear weapons production. Regarding Ukraine, Grossi highlighted the precarious position of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, which is currently facing frequent power outages, limited backup diesel supplies, and threats from military activities endangering the plant and its personnel.

On a positive note, Grossi reported that the IAEA has made significant progress in clarifying and resolving outstanding questions regarding Syria's nuclear activities after nearly two decades of uncertainty. This advancement is credited to the engagement with the interim government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who ousted the Assad regime in December 2024.

The IAEA confirmed in September that the Assad-era government, which was overthrown, was constructing a nuclear reactor designed to produce fissile material potentially for nuclear weapons purposes.