Russian official says nuclear energy shifting to Asia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Asia currently hosts most of the world's nuclear plants currently under construction, as nuclear energy gradually shifts from Europe and the U.S. to Asia, Sergei Kirienko, head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said Monday, June 9, according to RIA Novosti.

"Last year, here at the forum, a forecast was made for a geographical shift in nuclear energy, with the countries in Asia taking a larger share. Today, we can clearly see that. While the majority of functioning nuclear power plants are located in Europe and the US, more than half of the nuclear power plants under construction are in Asian countries," Kirienko said at the Atomexpo 2014 international forum in Moscow, which is taking place June 9-11.

Kirienko told journalists Rosatom views the Asia-Pacific market as a priority for the Russian nuclear industry.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 72 nuclear plants are being built this year – ten more than last year, Kirienko said.