NUCLEAR ENERGY WANES

Nuclear energy may see role wane, says UN agency :

VIENNA : The UN's nuclear agency on Monday said global capacity for electricity generation through nuclear power maybe shrinking over the coming decades.

In a new report the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] said that the sector would face challenges as ''ageing reactors are retired and the industry struggles with reduced competitiveness''.

''Overall, the new projections suggest that nuclear power may struggle to maintain its current place in the world's energy mix,'' the IAEA said.

In its worst case scenario, nuclear power capacity would fall by more than 10 percent until 2030.

Other factors cited as contributing to the squeeze on the sector were the low price of natural gas, the impact of renewable energy sources on electricity prices and the global reaction to the  011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. [AFP]