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Nuclear power could more than triple by 2060, UN agency says

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AP. (2026, October 24). Nuclear power could more than triple by 2060, UN agency says. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nuclear-power-could-more-than-triple-by-2060-un-agency-says/article71618915.ece

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The Hindu · collected 2026-10-24 · by AP

Quick Summary

Rafael Grossi, head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announced on Friday, October 23, 2026, that global use of nuclear power could more than triple by 2060. This projection is attributed to factors such as electrification needs and technology companies' demand for reliable carbon-free energy. Currently, over 400 operating reactors in about 30 countries produce 10% of the world's electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon power; more than 60 new reactors are under construction. Grossi also addressed nuclear safety concerns in Ukraine, Iran’s diplomatic future, North Korea’s expanding programme, and Syria’s past activities.
Written by AI on 2026-10-24, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated on October 23, 2026, during his agency’s annual report to the U.N. General Assembly, that nuclear power could more than triple by 2060. This prediction is driven by increased electrification, data centers powered by artificial intelligence, and technology companies' demand for reliable, carbon-free energy. Currently, over 400 operating reactors in more than 30 countries produce around 10% of global electricity, with projections showing a significant rise in future nuclear capacity due to growing concerns about energy security and the need for low-carbon power sources. Grossi also addressed ongoing issues such as nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, threats to nuclear safety from the war in Ukraine, and potential nuclear ambitions of unnamed countries.

Written for “Nuclear Power Expansion Forecast” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Nuclear Power Expansion Forecast
Science · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 7% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Toronto Star
Hedges 1 of 2 claims Outlet record 64/100
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
15
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
7%
1 of 15 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
77/100
The Hindu's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
2
Science
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-24 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

The Hindu · 854 article(s) · 2 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 2 correction(s)

Who wrote this

AP
112 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
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Wire or desk byline, not an individual reporter.
Also by AP
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All 112 articles by AP →

Topics

IAEA Iran North Korea U.S. Ukraine

Subjects

Grossi PERSON · 5× IAEA ORG · 5× Iran GPE · 3× North Korea GPE · 2× U.S. GPE · 2× Ukraine GPE · 2× Israel GPE · 1× Rafael Grossi PERSON · 1× the International Atomic Energy Agency's ORG · 1× the UN General Assembly ORG · 1×

Narrative

In addition to the growing use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Mr. Grossi spoke about the nuclear programmes in Iran and North Korea, the "unprecedented threats to nuclear safety" from the war in Ukraine, and worrying reports that other countries he did not name are talking about acquiring nuclear weapons.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-24
🔮 The head of the UN nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi, said on Friday (October 23, 2026) that he expects the use of nuclear power could more than triple by 2060.
2026-10-24 · The Hindu
Nuclear power could more than triple by 2060, UN agency says · assertive framing

Claims (15 extracted, 1 hedged)

The head of the UN nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi, said on Friday (October 23, 2026) that he expects the use of nuclear power could more than triple by 2060. uncertain
use → say → 2060
Mr. Grossi said in the International Atomic Energy Agency's annual report to the UN General Assembly that this will be driven by electrification, data centres powered by artificial intelligence and "technology companies' appetite for reliable, carbon-free power". asserted
this → say → power
Nuclear energy is seen by a growing number of countries as key to improving their energy security, he said, stressing that it is on par with solar energy and "safer than every other option". asserted
it → see → option
"In 2025, more than 400 operating reactors in more than 30 countries produced 10% of global electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon electricity," the IAEA director-general said. asserted
general → operate → electricity
"More than 60 new reactors are under construction, and the projections for future nuclear capacity have shifted dramatically upward." asserted
projections → shift → capacity
In addition to the growing use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Mr. Grossi spoke about the nuclear programmes in Iran and North Korea, the "unprecedented threats to nuclear safety" from the war in Ukraine, and worrying reports that other countries he did not name are talking about acquiring nuclear weapons. asserted
he → grow → weapons
On Iran, whose nuclear sites were struck by the U.S. last year before the U.S. and Israel launched a war on February 28, Mr. Grossi told UN member nations that the necessary technical work for a diplomatic agreement has been done. asserted
work → strike → agreement
"I call on the parties to redouble their efforts towards agreeing a diplomatic solution that includes the IAEA's indispensable verification role, without which no agreement can be sustainable," he said. asserted
he → call → which
"IAEA inspectors must be able to return to Iran expeditiously. asserted
inspectors → return → Iran
That requires a return to the negotiating table." asserted
That → require → table
In North Korea, where leader Kim Jong Un has a growing nuclear programme without any IAEA oversight, Mr. Grossi warned that it "stands as a stark reminder of the consequences when red lines are crossed" in violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning nuclear weapons production. asserted
lines → have → production
In Ukraine, he singled out the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, saying it remains "in a precarious position" with frequent power losses, limited back-up diesel supplies "and military activity threatening the plant and the people who work there". asserted
who → single → plant
On a positive note, Mr. Grossi said the IAEA has made "significant progress" in clarifying and resolving outstanding questions regarding Syria's nuclear activities after nearly two decades of uncertainty. asserted
IAEA → say → uncertainty
, he said. asserted
he → say → ?
He reported in September that the Bashar al-Assad-era government — which was ousted in December 2024 by opposition forces led by al-Sharaa — was constructing a nuclear reactor that was configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons. asserted
that → report → weapons
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