Iran war energy shock drives nuclear power plans in hard-hit Asia and Africa
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Iran war's global energy shock is causing some nations in Asia and Africa to boost nuclear power generation and spurring atomic energy plans in non-nuclear countries on both continents.
Asia, where most of the Middle Eastern oil and natural gas was headed, was hit first and hardest by disruptions to shipping routes carrying those fuels — swiftly followed by Africa. The U.S. and Europe are also feeling the pinch as the conflict drives up energy costs.
African and Asian nations with nuclear plants are increasing their output as they scramble for short-term energy supplies, while non-nuclear countries are accelerating long-term nuclear plans to safeguard against future fossil fuel shocks.
Nuclear power isn't a quick fix for the current energy crisis. Developing atomic energy can take decades, especially for nuclear newcomers. But long-term commitments to nuclear power made now will likely lock it in to countries' future energy mixes, said Joshua Kurlantzick of the Council on Foreign Relations.
In Asia, the Iran war is pushing South Korea to increase nuclear power generation, while Taiwan is debating restarting mothballed reactors. In Africa, future plans to build reactors have taken on urgency, with Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa affirming their support.
Nuclear power takes advantage of the energy released when the nucleus of an atom, such as uranium, splits in a process called fission. Unlike fossil fuels, this doesn't release climate change-causing carbon dioxide. But it creates potentially dangerous radioactive waste, one reason many countries are cautious about nuclear power.
The war has accelerated a global “nuclear renaissance,” said Rachel Bronson of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, as countries seek an out from the risks of fossil fuel markets.
There are 31 countries that use nuclear power, which provides about 10% of global electricity, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which says another 40 nations are either considering the technology or preparing to build a plant.
Hard-hit Asia advances on nuclear
In Asia, where energy triage efforts range from increased coal use to purchases of Russian crude oil, countries with nuclear plants are seeking to get more out of their existing reactors.
South Korea is increasing generation at its nuclear plants and speeding up maintenance at five offline reactors, with restarts planned in May.
In Japan, since the start of the war, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has signed a $40 billion reactor deal with the U.S., a nuclear fuel recycling agreement with France and promised Indonesia nuclear cooperation. Japan restarted the world’s largest nuclear plant, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa site, in January.
In South Asia, Bangladesh is racing to turn on new reactors built by Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom. Dhaka hopes they will supply the national grid with 300 megawatts by this summer, relieving some pressure from current gas shortfalls.
Africa voices atomic aims
Soaring energy prices and power shortages in Africa, triggered by the Iran war, is leading to public calls for nuclear cooperation and re-invigorated interest in long-term nuclear energy plans, which are underway in more than 20 of the 54 African countries.
Proponents tout them as a faster option, but projects can still take years. Kenya, for instance, plans to bring a small modular reactor online in 2034 after starting the first phase in 2009.
Smaller reactors, which can offer scalable, low-emitting base load power, are considered a solution to Africa's rising electricity demand, weak grids and over reliance on imported diesel.
US and Russia vie for role as a nuclear provider
The energy disruptions come as competition for influence in Africa intensifies between Washington and Moscow.
Considering the risks of nuclear energy
Risks like meltdowns and mismanaged waste remain, even as interest builds. Nuclear energy could also be a step toward building nuclear bombs.
Ayumi Fukakusa, of the advocacy group Friends of the Earth Japan, said “nuclear is very risky" and will keep countries reliant on imported fuels such as enriched uranium.
Given that nuclear sectors take years to develop, governments should stay focused on building out renewables for long-term energy security, said Rex Amancio of the Global Renewables Alliance.
Bronson, with the atomic scientists group, also said nuclear plants are vulnerable during conflicts, citing recent instances where reactors were specifically targeted during the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine War.
“All of this comes into the mix of how we think about energy security,” she said. “Countries are now weighing those kinds of risks against the other risks, which Asia and Africa are seeing first and foremost, about what happens when gas and oil stops."