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Eurostat - data for 2021 AtomInfo.Ru, PUBLISHED 26.12.2022 The Eurostat (statistical service of the European Union) has updated data on the state of the nuclear industry in the EU countries, taking into account the results of 2021. Nuclear power plants In total, 106 nuclear power units were operated in 13 EU countries in 2021. If the EU were considered as a single state, it would become the world leader in the number of units, bypassing the United States. The share of nuclear power plants in 2021 accounted for 25.2% of the total electricity generation in the EU countries. In absolute terms, nuclear generation amounted to 731.701 billion kW×h, which is 7.0% more than in 2020. Despite the increase, record figures remain unattainable. The maximum volume of nuclear generation in the European Union was reached in 2004 and amounted to 928.438 billion kW×h. The main production of electricity at nuclear power plants in the European Union in 2021 was concentrated in five countries, which accounted for 83.1% of the total nuclear output. Their results are given below (with rounding accuracy).
It is obvious that in 2022 and beyond, the top five manufacturers will undergo major changes. By country, France had the highest share of nuclear energy in the national energy balance in 2021 (68.9%). Slovakia is in second place (52.4%), Belgium is in third (50.6%). Enrichment All EU power reactors, except for two CANDUs in Romania, use enriched uranium as fuel. The uranium enrichment works are carried out in three EU countries - Germany, the Netherlands and France. Processing capacities are maintained at approximately the same level, in 2021 they amounted to 16.6 million SWU. It should be noted that since Eurostat provides data for the European Union only, the factories of the URENCO outside the EU are not taken into account in these statistics. European uranium enrichment capacities in the period 2012-2021.  Fuel fabrication Five countries have the capacity to produce uranium fuel in the European Union - Germany, France, Romania, Spain and Sweden. Belgium was also included in the reporting period 2012-2021, but it should be noted that 2012 was the last year of the fabrication of nuclear fuel in this country. As can be seen from the graph below, France remains the leader in the production of uranium fuel, with Sweden and Spain in second and third place. The scale of production in Germany is steadily declining, and Romania maintains its own units with CANDU reactors. Production of uranium fuel in the period 2012-2021, tons of heavy metals.  The MOX fuel is currently produced in the European Union only by France. Previously, such production was also in Belgium, but in 2015 it was closed. The table below shows that the production of MOX fuel in France is falling. Eurostat does not comment on this decline in any way. Production of MOX fuel in the period 2012-2021, tons of heavy metals.  Sources of uranium The uranium supplies to the EU countries are diversified. The largest supplier in 2021 was Niger (24.3%), followed by Kazakhstan (23.0%) and Russia (19.7%). The list of supplier countries also includes (by decreasing the share) Australia, Canada, South Africa and Namibia. The European Union received only 1.4% of uranium from its own sources in 2021. In addition, 1.6% of deliveries accounted for re-enriched tails. Left-click to view  Separately, the Eurostat report provides data on the production of reprocessed uranium and plutonium. The only EU country with such capabilities is France. It should be noted that the table below summarizes the data on reprocessed uranium and plutonium. Left-click to view  Topics: Europe, NPP, NFC, Uranium Other news: Decision to terminate contract for construction of Hanhikivi-1 NPP unlawful Dispute Review Board confirmed that Fennovoima Oy had unlawfully terminated the EPC contract for the construction of Hanhikivi-1 NPP. AtomExpo-2022: electric propulsion as a new paradigm Private business is quite capable of doing light things, and a state-owned company should take on complex redevelopments. 423 nuclear units are operating in the world, 57 units are under construction In 2022, construction started for 7 units, 4 with Chinese reactors and 3 with Russian ones. |
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