12 Apr (NucNet): Outside Japan there appears to be little ultimate change to energy policies directly attributable to the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in March 2011, a report by the Paris-based Nuclear Energy Agency says. The report, which examines how the accident has affected energy policies, says in general, countries with previous commitment to nuclear power remained committed, and those with plans to phase out nuclear power accelerated those plans. Nuclear power development efforts have made significant progress globally, with 33 units starting construction and 38 grid connections, the report notes. However, some uncertainties remain in terms of policy responses to the event, most notably in the East Asia region. Overall, it is clear that projections have decreased from those of 2007-2011. A number of governments, particularly in Western Europe, have made clear policy changes as a direct result of the accident. However, the report says it is also clear from a country-by-country review that, despite changes in some countries, most countries with nuclear power or with plans to add nuclear power to their energy mix have maintained an interest in developing the technology. In China and South Korea, there appears to be limited impact on long-term plans, as the governments still have very ambitious deployment plans. In Russia, where there are seven new units under construction, new capacity projections have decreased from 2009 owing to reduced needs and the financial requirements for such a steep build rate. The report is online: http://bit.ly/2p55dLw
