LONDON: The nuclear industry was dealt a big blow on Friday when two of the most nuclear-friendly countries decided to exit or sharply curb their reliance on the technology following a public opinion backlash after the Fukushima accident in Japan last year.
Japan, which produced more than 10% of the global nuclear power before Fukushima disaster, joins Germany, Switzerland and Belgium in deciding to shut down their nuclear plants and to spend money on renewable energy instead.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced on Friday his country would pull out of nuclear power by the 2030s and triple the share of renewable sources to 30% of its energy mix.
"If you were looking at investing in an energy source at the moment, why would you invest in nuclear when you've just seen two major countries turning off their plants?" said Richard George, energy campaigner at Greenpeace.
Japan's exit and France's renewed pledge to reduce nuclear power to 50% of its electricity capacity by 2025 sends an anti-nuclear message to countries which have been undecided about what stance to take on the technology.
The industry saw a renaissance over the past decade when governments across the globe stepped up efforts to reduce carbon, of which nuclear emits none.
The industry promotes its technology as a reliable alternative to polluting fossil-fuel plants and less expensive than renewable power projects such as offshore wind farms. The growing anti-nuclear feeling is likely to further dent the order books of the world's major nuclear power players.
