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The first commercial nuclear power stations started operation in the 1950s. |
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There are now some 436 commercial nuclear power reactors operating in 30 countries, with 372,000 MWe of total capacity. |
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They provide about 15% of the world's electricity as continuous, reliable base-load power, and their efficiency is increasing. |
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56 countries operate a total of about 280 research reactors reactors and a further 220 reactors power ships and submarines. |
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Asia is the only region in the world where electricity generating capacity and specifically nuclear power is growing significantly. |
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In East and South Asia there are over 111 nuclear power reactors in operation, 21 under construction and plans to build about a further 150. |
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The greatest growth in nuclear generation is expected in China, Japan, South Korea and India. |
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