Global nuclear capacity reaches record high in 40 years

Istanbul — Global nuclear power capacity currently under construction has reached approximately 70 gigawatts, the highest level in four decades, indicating a significant resurgence in nuclear energy, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol, speaking at a press briefing in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday (12 March).

Birol stated that renewable energy and nuclear power will be the two principal pillars of clean energy. He further noted that nuclear power remains essential as a reliable energy source capable of operating continuously.

Turkey’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, remarked at the same press briefing that geopolitical conflicts have demonstrated vulnerabilities in the global energy supply chain, making energy security a top priority in national strategies.

The IEA comprises 32 member states and 13 associated countries, representing approximately 75 per cent of global energy demand. On Wednesday (11 March), Birol announced that, amid Middle Eastern conflict, all 32 member states unanimously agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil onto the market from their emergency reserves. This action represents the largest coordinated measure in the organisation’s history.