"It was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn away from reliable energy"
Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission PresidentThe EU Commission wants to invest €200 million in mini reactors (SMR), first commissioning in early 2030s.
In Asia, development is already much further along:
China's nuclear marathon
59 reactors in operation, 28-36 under construction – more than any other country. Beijing approved ten new reactors in 2025 ($27 billion) – 10+ per year for the fourth consecutive time.
Construction time: 5 years per reactor (vs. 10-15 years in Europe/USA)
2035 target: 200 GW capacity (currently 62 GW)
Technology: World's first Gen-IV high-temperature reactor (2023), thorium experiments underway
China is already exporting: Target is 30 reactors in Belt & Road countries by 2030, revenue $145 billion.
South Korea: 80% approval
Public polls showed 80%+ support for nuclear power.
26 reactors deliver 31.7% of electricity. Plan until 2038: Two new large reactors (2.8 GW) plus first commercial SMR (700 MW).
Japan after Fukushima
15 years after the disaster, 15 of 33 reactors are running again.
Target by 2040: 20% nuclear power (currently 9%).
Sources: France24, World Nuclear Association, World Nuclear News
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