Australia
By 2000 Australia should have a 21,000-MW nuclear power plant installed, according to plans from 1972. Realized: zero.In 1984 secret government plans were leaked in which it was advised to build nuclear weapons if neighbors, like Indonesia, should produce them.
Austria
The nuclear plant at Zwentendorf, completed in 1978, was shutdown after a referendum on November 5, 1978. Chancellor Kreisky had threatened beforehand to step down if a majority should vote against. There had been rumors of political parties receiving bribes from builder KWU, in total about US$60 million. The owner put the reactor on stand-by for five years but it was of no avail. An anti-nuclear law passed parliament. A demand of the utility for compensation was first turned down by a lower court, but in the second instance was approved. Plans for a second plant vaporized.Bangladesh
Since 1965 Bangladesh has planned to build a nuclear reactor at Rooppur. First, Westinghouse was to have built it. Then Canada, then the Soviet Union, and when that didn't succeed, France. Saudi Arabia at one time (1981) was even willing to pay the bill. Always financing came in between plans and reality. In 1997 the World Bank refused to finance the project. Last effort?Cuba
On September 30, 1998, Cuban President Fidel Castro has announced that work on the country's Cenfuegos nuclear reactor, has been suspended indefinitely. He says that it will be "a long time, a very long time" before construction actually is restarted. This means the power plant will never be finished. Work on the two VVER- 440 reactors started in 1983, but was suspended since 1992.Denmark
Five nuclear reactors were planned in 1976 but they never materialized. Responsible for this was the very broad and strong anti-nuclear movement, with the OOA in Copenhagen as the most well- known. In 1985 the government decided definitely against nuclear power. Opinion polls showed that 80 percent of the public was against. Opposition against reactors in Sweden, especially the Barsebäck plant 20 km from Copenhagen, and Germany was and still is strong.Greece
In 1971 Greece signed an agreement with the UK for the construction of a nuclear power plant in exchange for 40,000 tons of Greek tobacco. Completion was planned for 1974. The British tobacco industry, however, was not interested in the deal. Then the USSR made an offer to supply reactors. No reaction. In 1972 the Greek atomic energy commission announced plans to have a 4,200-MW nuclear power plant on line by 1990. The government decided in 1976 to build one nuclear power plant, to be completed by 1986. Nothing happened and in 1982, the minister of industry declared that no nuclear reactors would be build. Lately there are rumors of possible construction of two reactors at Crete. However, that's very unlikely.Ireland
The 1973 oil crisis accelerated the decision to build a nuclear reactor. That decision was taken in 1974 and completion was expected in 1980, at the earliest. The foreseen construction site was Carnsore Point, in the southeast. Opposition was too strong and the plan did not survive.Italy
After the Chernobyl accident, all four nuclear reactors in operation were closed down; the last two in 1990 after a 1988 referendum against nuclear power was won. Another nine planned reactors with 8,000 MW were cancelled. Five of them were already under construction from 1974 on. The money spent on one of them, a 1,000-MW LWR in Montalto di Castro, amounted to US$6 billion. A government coalition fell apart in 1988 when it decided to complete the plant. The Socialists first agreed, then changed their mind. Italy had also a 1/3 share in the Superphenix, which was closed in 1998.Luxemburg
Luxemburg decided very quickly to cancell its 1% participation at the Kalkar fast breeder reactor in Germany. It signed in 1976 a Letter of Intent with three German nuclear companies for the construction of a 1300-MW PWR at Remerschen. This plan was cancelled only in June 1979, due to the accident at Harrisburg, US.Norway
Norway planned the construction of a nuclear power plant back in 1973. Opposition mainly came from women's organizations and political youth groups. After many delays the plan was definitely blown off in 1986.Philippines
In 1972 President Marcos announced plans to build six nuclear reactors. In 1976 construction of the first one was started.It was built by Westinghouse at Bataan and completed in 1985.
It never went into operation due to strong opposition.
Poland
In 1974 four nuclear plants were ordered, all Russian-type 440-MW VVERs. Original completion time: 1980. Construction at Zarnowiec on the coast near Gdansk started in 1982. Until 1990 nine more reactors with 8,500 MW were foreseen. After Chernobyl, opposition grew and demonstations were held. In spite of that, plans for four nuclear plants near Poznan were announced, but given up in 1989. In 1990 the four plants under construction were cancelled.Portugal
In 1971 it was planned to have a 8,000-MW nuclear power plant installed by 2000. It was to produce 70% of all electricity needs. Plans were delayed over and over again, until it was finally decided in 1995 not to build any in Portugal. Plans to participate in nuclear reactor construction in Spain were also first shelved and later abandoned.Related article: The decline of nuclear power
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