Global nuclear power capacity could more than triple by 2060, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said.
The agency said countries were increasingly turning to nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand and strengthen energy security.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi disclosed this at the agency’s 70th General Conference in Vienna, where he highlighted the growing importance of nuclear energy in the global transition toward more secure and reliable power systems.
Grossi said the renewed interest in nuclear power was not limited to traditional energy needs, noting that nuclear energy was also increasingly being considered for emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI) data centres.
According to him, the rapid expansion of AI and the resulting growth in demand for electricity could create new opportunities for nuclear power as countries seek dependable sources of energy capable of supporting large scale digital infrastructure.
He also pointed to the potential application of nuclear energy in the maritime shipping sector, which is responsible for transporting about 80 per cent of global trade.
The IAEA chief said the agency was witnessing growing optimism around the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, particularly among developing countries that view nuclear energy as an important component of economic development.
He said the agency was supporting such countries through training, capacity building and technology transfer to ensure that the benefits of nuclear science and technology were accessible to a wider range of nations.
“Many developing countries consider nuclear energy an essential element of their economic development,” Grossi said, stressing the need to create a level playing field that would enable countries to benefit from advances in nuclear technology.
Beyond electricity generation, he said the IAEA’s work was contributing to development in areas such as cancer treatment, the fight against zoonotic diseases and environmental protection.
Grossi, however, noted that the expansion of nuclear energy must take place alongside strong international cooperation, safety measures and effective safeguards.
He said the agency continued to work on nuclear safety issues, including efforts to prevent a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
He also acknowledged continuing challenges surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, saying cooperation and verification remained necessary to provide assurances about its peaceful nature.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement delivered on his behalf by Monica Juma, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, said the world was “on the cusp of a revolution in nuclear power generation”.
Guterres said the expected expansion of nuclear power would require careful management and monitoring, particularly amid increasing attacks on nuclear facilities and growing concerns over nuclear proliferation.
He called on member states to support the IAEA’s work and provide predictable and sustainable funding for its Technical Cooperation Fund, which assists developing countries in accessing nuclear science and technology.
The IAEA General Conference, the agency’s main policy making body, brings together member states and thousands of participants annually to deliberate on nuclear energy, safety, security and the peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
About 4,000 participants are expected to attend this year’s conference throughout the week.