Fewer countries build new nuclear reactors in 2024

This decreased to 13 countries.

The number of countries building new nuclear plants declined in 2024, with projects underway in 13 states, a decrease of two from the year prior, according to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR).

As of 1 January 2025, there were 61 units under construction in 13 countries, WNISR said. Almost half (29) are under construction in China, including four implemented by Russia. Nuclear facilities are also being built by Moscow in its own country (6), Bangladesh (2), Egypt (4), India (4), Iran (1), and Turkey (4).

“Almost all constructions (over 93%) are implemented either in Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) or by companies controlled by NWS in other countries. The only exceptions are building sites in Argentina (a 25-MW unit with uncertain construction status), Japan (a 1300-MW unit with uncertain construction status), and South Korea (two 1300-MW units),” said WNISR.

As of the start of 2025, WNISR said 411 nuclear power reactors, equal to 371 gigawatt (GW), were operating worldwide, which was two units less than a year ago.

Six of the nine nuclear plants that commenced construction last year were in China, plus another one in Pakistan implemented by Beijing-based companies. New ones are also being built in Russia and Egypt.

Seven new reactors with a total capacity of 8.2 GW were connected to the grid last year. Three of these were in China, and one each in France, India, UAE, and the US. Meanwhile, four with a  capacity of 3.9 GW were closed. Two of these were in Canada, and one each in Russia and Taiwan.

“The net increase in operating nuclear capacity was thus 4.3 GW. This compares with an estimated 161 GW of solar capacity added in China alone in the first nine months of 2024, and about 40 GW of new solar connected to the grid in the US over the year 2024,” the report said.