World Nuclear Power Reactors & Uranium Requirements

February 2018

In the 'planned' category, this table includes only those future reactors envisaged in specific plans and expected to be operating by the late 2020s.

The World Nuclear Association country profiles linked to this table cover both areas: near-term developments and the prospective long-term role for nuclear power in national energy policies. They also provide more detail of what is tabulated here.

Sources:
Reactor data: International Atomic Energy Agency Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), Company data, World Nuclear Association estimates
PRIS – for nuclear electricity production & percentage of electricity (% e)
World Nuclear Association, The Nuclear Fuel Report (September 2017, reference scenario) – for U 
65,014 tU = 76,671 t U₃O₈

Operable = Connected to the grid
Under Construction = First concrete for reactor poured, or major refurbishment underway
Planned = Approvals, funding or commitment in place, mostly expected in operation within 8-10 years
Proposed = Specific programme or site proposals, timing of start of operation very uncertain

New plants coming online are largely balanced by old plants being retired. Over 1996-2016, 80 reactors were retired as 96 started operation. The reference scenario in the 2017 edition of The Nuclear Fuel Report (Table 2.4) has 140 reactors closing by 2035, and 224 new ones coming online (figures include 22 Japanese reactors online by 2035).

TWh = terawatt hour (billion kilowatt hours); kWh = kilowatt hour; MWe = megawatt (electrical as distinct from thermal)

** The world total includes six reactors operating on Taiwan with a combined capacity of 4927 MWe, which generated a total of 30.5 TWh in 2016 (accounting for 13.7% of Taiwan's total electricity generation). 

Note: This table is routinely updated approximately every two months, and more frequently as required.
Earlier tables: December 2017 September 2017 July 2017 May 2017 March 2017 January 2017 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 October 2014 August 2014 June 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 February 2009 January 2009 October 2008 September 2008 July 2008 March 2008 January 2008 December 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 May 2007 March 2007 January 2007