Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 24: The IAEA expects nuclear power use could more than triple by 2060. AI data centres and energy security concerns are driving interest. Safety and verification risks, from Iran to Ukraine, remain pressing.
Global nuclear power use could more than triple by 2060, the UN nuclear agency says. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) set out the outlook on Friday. Its chief, Rafael Grossi, presented it in an annual report to the UN General Assembly. The outlook refers to nuclear power use, not a defined capacity target.
Grossi said more than 400 reactors operated in over 30 countries in 2025. Together, they supplied about 10% of global electricity and a quarter of low-carbon power. More than 60 further reactors are now under construction. He added that forecasts for future nuclear capacity have risen sharply.
Grossi linked the expected growth to three main forces. These are electrification, AI-powered data centres and tech companies’ demand for steady, clean electricity. Data centres run around the clock and need uninterrupted supply. Nuclear plants can generate firm power regardless of weather. Solar and wind vary with weather, so the sources can complement each other.
Grossi said more countries now see nuclear as key to energy security. It can diversify generation and cut reliance on imported fossil fuels. He described nuclear as on a par with solar and “safer than every other option”. That is Grossi’s own assessment; safety comparisons depend on method and the risks measured.
Turning the outlook into reality would require heavy, sustained investment. Nuclear plants carry high upfront costs and long construction periods. Projects also need regulatory approval, skilled engineers, fuel, grid links and waste plans.
The IAEA’s role extends well beyond promoting peaceful nuclear energy. Its safety work aims to prevent accidents, while security work guards against sabotage. Safeguards, meanwhile, verify that nuclear material stays in peaceful use. Grossi also flagged reports that some unnamed countries are discussing acquiring nuclear weapons.
On Iran, Grossi said technical groundwork for a diplomatic deal is complete. US strikes hit Iran’s nuclear sites last year. The US and Israel then launched a war on 28 February. He urged renewed talks, saying no deal can last without IAEA verification. Inspectors, he added, must return to Iran quickly.
North Korea’s expanding programme operates entirely outside IAEA oversight. Grossi said it shows the cost of breaching UN Security Council resolutions.
In Ukraine, Grossi highlighted the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility. He said it faces frequent power losses and scarce backup diesel. Military activity also threatens the site and its staff, he added. External power keeps cooling systems running, even when reactors are shut down.
Grossi reported major headway on questions about Syria’s nuclear past after nearly two decades. He credited cooperation with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government. Al-Sharaa’s forces ousted Bashar Assad in December 2024. In September, Grossi said Assad’s government had been building a reactor. It was configured to produce fissile material for possible weapons use, he said.
The outlook places fresh demands on international institutions. More reactors in more countries will mean more facilities to inspect. Civilian nuclear growth will depend on investment and public confidence. That confidence rests on strong safety standards and credible verification.
