Nuclear shockwave – EU plans new nuclear era, global progress

The world’s ‘nuclear powers’ had already promised to launch a full-scale nuclear offensive at the international nuclear energy summit in Brussels in the spring. The scary thing is that there are already more than 400 reactors in operation worldwide to produce electricity. “We are determined to fully exploit the potential of nuclear energy,” the alliance said in a joint statement.

It was stressed that electricity from nuclear power plants is essential for reducing climate-damaging CO₂ emissions. The meeting was attended by, among others, the heads of state and government of France, the Netherlands and Poland, as well as high-level representatives from the US, China and Japan.

The World Bank should help finance nuclear reactors
Since then, there has been more or less open advertising for the construction of new reactors, but also for the extension of the lifespan of existing nuclear power plants. They also advocated the rapid use of newer and smaller reactors. In fact, even international financial institutions such as the World Bank are being brought on the nuclear boat!

Globally active financial institutions are specifically called upon to provide more support accordingly. The hidden charge of the lobbyists is that alternative energy sources have so far received preferential treatment from the development banks.

Capacity is expected to triple by 2050
At the World Climate Conference late last year, some twenty countries announced that they would triple their nuclear energy production capacity by 2050. France is increasingly emerging as a major nuclear nation: 56 of Europe’s 100 nuclear power plants, some of which are in a very dilapidated state and therefore dangerous, are spread across the country along the Seine.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, there are 415 reactors producing electricity worldwide. According to lobbying organization WNA, the US stands out as the world’s largest producer, followed by China and France.

France is particularly fond of nuclear energy
Atomic Napoleon Emanuel Macron is looking forward to even more radioactivity. The construction of 14 or more new facilities is being considered. In addition, the lifespan of existing power plants must be extended, sounds the alarm bell, WWF expert Reinhard Uhrig. But the French neighboring state Belgium also made a complete about-face. In response to possible energy shortages as a result of the war in Ukraine, the phase-out was postponed until 2035.

The only glimmer of hope: Spain is still holding out for the exit. Poland is also planning to restart a nuclear energy program, and the Czech Republic is also planning to build new nuclear power plants.

“A nuclear power plant will never be economical”
“We are shocked and outraged in equal measure and are resisting wherever we can,” says Viennese Greenpeace Europe chief Alexander Egit combatively. He warns again of major risks and recalls the devastating nuclear disasters in Chernobyl and Fukushima. Egit also emphasizes that the costs can never be covered without exorbitant state subsidies: “A nuclear power plant will never be economical.”

What further fuels this circumstance: Due to the dwindling uranium reserves, the prices for this raw material will continue to rise. An additional disadvantage: Due to the long construction times of the reactors, the technology is not suitable to make a difference in the fight against the increasingly dramatic climate crisis. WWF climate spokesman Reinhard Uhrig adds: “Nuclear energy cannot be a clean or even CO₂-free solution. The fact that the question of the final disposal of radioactive waste has not yet been resolved in itself makes this argument absurd.”

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is currently adding fuel to the fire of the debate by shamelessly calling for an expansion of nuclear energy. “When it comes to our energy, we have to generate our own energy,” the CDU politician demanded at the Globesec security conference in Prague. This requires more energy generation from renewable sources, but also nuclear energy and more efficiency.

Von der Leyen mainly uses Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as an argument for her demand. This is where the frightening danger becomes clear, as some reactors are under direct fire and could cause a disaster. The politician left open whether she also considers a return to the use of nuclear energy in Germany appropriate. The last nuclear power plants in their home country were shut down in April 2023.