Full Breakdown
IAEA Director-General Projects Nuclear Power to More Than Triple by 2060
By Drooid · · How we work
Forecast and Current Capacity
Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the U.N. General Assembly that nuclear electricity generation could more than triple by 2060. He noted that in 2025 more than 400 operating reactors in over 30 countries supplied roughly 10 % of global electricity and accounted for a quarter of low-carbon power.
Drivers of Expected Growth
He positioned nuclear energy as comparable to solar power and “safer than every other option.”
Ongoing Construction and Future Projections
According to Grossi, more than 60 new reactors are currently under construction, a figure that has shifted expectations for future nuclear capacity sharply upward. The IAEA’s annual report emphasizes that these projects are central to meeting the anticipated increase in nuclear output.
Geopolitical Risks Cited by the IAEA
In the same briefing, Grossi highlighted several security concerns. He warned that the war in Ukraine creates “unprecedented threats to nuclear safety,” citing the Zaporizhzhia plant’s precarious condition due to power losses and limited backup diesel. He described North Korea’s expanding program as a stark reminder of the consequences when U.N. Security Council red lines are crossed. Regarding Iran, Grossi called on the parties to resume negotiations and enable IAEA inspectors to return promptly, stressing that verification is essential for any sustainable diplomatic solution.
Recent Developments on Syria’s Nuclear Program
Grossi reported “significant progress” in clarifying Syria’s nuclear activities after nearly two decades of uncertainty. He attributed this advance to engagement with the interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa. The IAEA had previously indicated that the ousted Bashar Assad-era government was constructing a reactor configured to produce fissile material for potential weapons use.
These statements collectively outline the IAEA’s outlook on nuclear energy’s growth, the technical and geopolitical factors influencing that trajectory, and recent investigative progress in Syria.