- 26 March, 2026
- Economy and Energy
The Armenian government has extended the operation of Armenia’s nuclear power plant until 2036. In parallel, a decision was made that the next nuclear power plant in Armenia will not have a traditional (water-cooled) reactor, but a modular one.
In fact, Armenia has only ten years to build a new nuclear power plant. The Union of Informed Citizens studied how many new reactors have been built in the world since 2010, and how long their construction took.
* Note that only conventional, water-cooled reactors that have been put into operation were studied.
Between 2010 and 2026, the global landscape of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes expanded significantly. Dozens of nuclear reactors were commissioned or began to be constructed in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
As of May 2026, there are over 820 reactors worldwide, 439 of which are operational.
Source: worldnuclearreport.org
More than 90 reactors were commissioned between 2010 and 2026. The construction period ranges from 4.5 years to more than 40 years (when construction was suspended for long periods).
The Union of Informed Citizens has made a list of nuclear reactors commissioned between 2010 and 2026, including the duration of their design and construction works.
Note that international sources usually indicate construction start and commissioning dates, without mentioning the duration of design works. Hence, the information below mainly includes the construction duration.
Thus, one reactor, Atucha-2, was commissioned in Argentina, the construction of which began on July 14, 1981, and commercial operation began on June 27, 2014. Construction took about 33 years.
Two reactors were built and commissioned in Belarus.
- Ostrovets-1: November 6, 2013 – June 10, 2021 (about 7.5 years)
- Ostrovets-2: April 24, 2014 – November 1, 2023 (about 9.5 years)
China is the country that has been the fastest in developing nuclear energy during this period, having commissioned about 40 reactors. Some of them include:
- Changjiang 1 and 2 – about 5.5 years (2015-2016)
- Fangchenggang 1 and 2 – 5-5.5 years (2015-2016)
- Fangchenggang 3 and 4 – about 7-7.5 years (2023-2024)
- Fuqing 5 and 6 – about 5.5-6 years (2021-2022)
- Sanmen 1 and 2 – about 9 years (2018)
- Taishan 1 and 2 – about 9-9.5 years (2018-2019)
- Zhangzhou 1 and 2 – about 5 years (due date 2025)
- San’ao 1 – about 6 years (due date 2026)
Finland: Construction of the Olkiluoto-3 reactor began on August 12, 2005, and was commissioned on May 1, 2023. Construction duration: approximately 18 years.
France: Construction of the Flamanville-3 reactor began in 2007, with commissioning scheduled for December 21, 2024. Total duration: approximately 17 years.
In India, about 10 reactors have been commissioned or are under construction in recent years.
- Kakrapar 3 and 4 – about 12.5-13.5 years (2023-2024)
- Kudankulam 1 and 2 – about 12.5-14.5 years (2014-2017)
- Rajasthan-7 – about 13.5 years (due date 2025)
- Kudankulam-3, Rajasthan-8, Madras-3 – due to be commissioned in 2026.
In Pakistan, five reactors have been commissioned during this period.
- Chashma 2, 3, 4 – about 5.5-6 years (2011-2017)
- Karachi 2 and 3 – about 6-8 years (2021-2022)
In Russia, about 12 reactors have been commissioned or are under construction.
- Akademik Lomonosov 1 and 2 – about 12.5 years (2019)
- Leningrad II-1 and II-2 – about 10-11 years (2018-2021)
- Novovoronezh II-1 and II-2 – about 8.5-10 years (2017-2019)
- Rostov-2 – construction began in 1983, commissioned in 2010 (27.5 years)
- Rostov-3 and 4 – about 5.5-8 years
- Kursk II-1 and Seversk (BREST-300) – scheduled for commissioning in 2026.
In South Korea, 8 reactors have been commissioned.
- Shin-Hanul 1 and 2 – about 10.5-11.5 years (2022-2024)
- Shin-Kori 1 and 2 – about 4.5-5 years (2011-2012)
- Saeul 1 and 2 – about 7-10 years (2016-2019)
- Shin-Wolsong 1 and 2 – about 4.5-6.5 years (2012-2015)
In the United Arab Emirates, the Barakah 1, 2, 3, and 4 projects were commissioned in 2021-2024. The construction of each reactor took about 8.5-9 years.
USA:
- Vogtle 3 and 4 – commissioned in 2023-2024, construction took about 10.5 years
- Watts Bar 2 – construction began in 1973, commissioned in 2016 (42.5 years)
The graph below shows the reactors commissioned during the period, by country, number, and average construction duration.
Thus, the fastest projects were implemented within 4.5-6 years (mainly in China and South Korea), while some reactors, the construction of which was suspended for a long time, were completed within a period of 30-40 years or more.
Nane Manasyan
Union of Informed Citizens
