Nuclear facilities around the world: the old, the new and the crisis-affected

Following the German government’s decision to phase out nuclear power, it is clear that Germany’s last nuclear power plant will be shut down in 2022. However, it is equally clear that this does not mark the end of Germany’s responsibility for this high-risk technology. The dismantling of its nuclear installations, the management of the interim storage facilities and the still unresolved issue of a repository site will continue to preoccupy Germany for the foreseeable future.

It is important, too, to look beyond Germany’s borders. Nuclear facilities are currently in operation in many European countries and elsewhere in the world. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), there were 443 nuclear reactors in operation in 31 countries (including Taiwan) in February 2020, and 52 new facilities are under construction. And although other countries besides Germany are phasing out nuclear power, plants will remain in operation around the world for years or even decades to come.