Every year, the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) releases a report tracking the status of nuclear power plants worldwide, entitled "Nuclear Power Plants in the World." This year's survey was based on a questionnaire given to 72 electric utilities and other nuclear organizations in 31 nations and region, and illustrates the situation as of December 31, 1999.

Two Units in South Korea, One in Slovakia Come on Line

As of the end of 1999, there are 425 nuclear power plants in operation worldwide, with a combined capacity of 359,425 MW (422 units and 358,490 MW in 1998). There are currently 49 plants under construction, with a total capacity of 43,563 MW (46 units and 38,068 MW in 1998), @and 40 plants planned with a combined capacity of 27,413 MW (46 units and 34,488 MW in 1998).

During 1999, three units started commercial operations: Slovakia's Mochovce -1 (Soviet-designed PWR = VVER, 440 MW); and South Korea's Wolsong-4 (CANDU, 700 MW) and Ulchin-4 (PWR, 1,000 MW). In Korea, that brought the total of operating units to 16, with a total capacity of 13,716 MW, and made Korea's installed capacity the seventh largest in the world, surpassing the Ukraine.

In Russia, as of this survey, three military plutonium-production reactors built during the Soviet era remain in operation as power reactors and are included in the figures for nuclear power plants in operation: Tomsk-4 and 5 (light water cooled, graphite moderated reactors = LWGR,100 MW each) and Krasnoyarsk-3 (LWGR, 100 MW) . The three were to be closed under an agreement between the U.S. and Russia, but it was decided to keep them in civilian service because, unlike other plutonium-production reactors, they are capable of supplying both electricity and heat.

Altogether, in the former Soviet Union, 13 military plutonium-production reactors were constructed, mostly during the 1950's, at three closed nuclear cities in Siberia -Chelyabinsk ‚U‚T,@Tomsk‚V and Krasnoyarsk‚Q‚U. Of those reactors, Mayak‚P-5 in Chelyabinsk and Tomsk1-3, and Krasnoyarsk1-2 had been closed by 1992.

One Unit Each in Kazakhstan, Sweden Close

The survey confirmed that Kazakhstan's Shevchenko (BN-350, 150 MW) and Sweden's Barseback-1 (BWR, 615 MW) have been closed. An FBR developed during the Soviet era, Shevchenko was used not only to generate power, but to desalinize seawater. Its shutdown was ordered because its small output was insufficiently economical, and because no technical assistance has been providing by Russia. As it was the only operating power reactor in that country, the total number of countries and regions where nuclear power plants are in operation was reduced by one, to 31. Barseback-1 was closed in accordance with a national policy to get out of nuclear generation, after an agreement was finally achieved between the government and the plant's private-sector owner/operator, Sydkraft.

Two Units Connected to Grid; Three Achieve First Criticality

In Slovakia, following the start of commercial operations at Mochovce-1, Mochovce-2 began connected the grid on December 21 and is set to enter commercial service early in 2000. The two units are Soviet-designed PWRs (VVERs), but with technological improvements from the West. Also, France's Civaux-2 (PWR, 1,516 MW) connected the grid on December 24, the last of France's four N4 series units to do so; all, however, are still in various stages of trial and are not yet officially in commercial operation. In addition, two plants -- India's Kaiga-2 (PHWR, 220 MW) and Rajasthan-3 (PHWR, 220 MW) -- have achieved first criticality. Starts of commercial operation are all scheduled in 2000 or later.

Construction Begun on Seven Units

Japan's Hamaoka-5 (ABWR, 1,380 MW) and Shika-2 (ABWR, 1,358 MW) were among seven plants for which construction was begun in 1999. The others were Taiwan's Lungmen-1 and -2 (ABWR, 1,350 MW each), China's Qinshan-III-2 (CANDU, 700 MW) and Tianwan-1 (formerly called Lianyungang-1) (PWR, 1,000 MW), and Russia's Beloyarsk-4 (FBR, 800 MW). Four of the seven employ ABWR designs jointly developed by the U.S. and Japan. And, with the exception of the one in Russia, all are in the Asian region. (In Japan, the Ohma Station (ABWR, 1,383 MW) was officially incorporated into the nation's power development plan.)