National programmes - where do they stand now?

摘要

Just over a year after Fukushima, there is a general perception that nuclear power's credibility has sustained a major blow that severely damaged (possibly irreparably) its prospects for achieving a significant role in satisfying future energy needs. In fact, this is not the case at all. For one thing, there are more powerful forces acting on world energy development that will likely prove much more significant in the longer run than a single accident in one country. The world energy supply and demand outlook remains fundamentally unchanged today, although it is arguable that the economic recession in many countries has lessened the push towards 'clean power' as cost factors have taken on more prominence.