More international support for tripling nuclear capacity
The number of countries supporting the Declaration to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 has grown to 33, with the recent addition of Rwanda and Senegal announced on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Support has also increased among nuclear industry companies, energy users and financial institutions.
Currently there are around 44o nuclear power reactors operating globally, producing nearly 397 GWe of capacity in 31 countries. Over 70 additional reactors are under construction, expected to add around 77 GWe. In 2024, nuclear generation reached a record of 2,667 TWh.
The number of countries supporting the declaration to triple nuclear energy by 2050 has grown to 33
The Declaration, originally launched at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, had 25 signatory countries. At World Nuclear Association (WNA) side meetings, ministers from countries such as Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States committed to the shared ambition of tripling global nuclear capacity. At COP29 in Baku in 2024, six more countries endorsed the goal.
Rwanda has maintained peaceful nuclear cooperation since 2018. In 2020, the country established the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board for research, development and personnel training. Senegal, which is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels for electricity, proposed a nuclear project as early as 2010 and now prepares a research reactor and long-term Small Modular Reactor (SMR) plan under its "Vision Senegal 2050".
Rwanda and Senegal are the latest signatories to this Declaration
At COP30, WNA’s Director-General Sama Bilbao y León stated: “The path to tripling nuclear capacity is open, but it demands bold, pragmatic and visionary leadership. Governments must act now, and industry must deliver and work together with civil society. A cleaner, more resilient future is within reach with nuclear energy.”
Along with these developments, institutions such as Stifel Financial Corp. and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) signed the “Tripling Statement of Support by Financial Institutions”, underlining the investment community’s evolving commitment to nuclear as a cornerstone of clean, resilient, secure energy systems. Major energy users like Equinix, Fermi America and Circularity joined the pledge, as did industry firms such as Kazatomprom and Nuclearia Energy. Over 140 companies from the nuclear industry have signed the industrial pledge, and 16 major financial institutions have backed the goal since September 2024.
Over 140 nuclear industry companies and 16 major financial institutions have signed the pledge of industrial support
WNA issued a preview of its World Nuclear Outlook 2025 report, which is now published. This report lists national targets for 2050, assesses the status of reactors under construction, and examines planned or proposed projects. The study finds that tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050 is feasible — provided governments act immediately and with sustained resolve to fulfil their national commitments.
Source: World Nuclear News
