ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses a group of scientists who built the first nuclear reactor as part of the Manhattan Project. Although this first attempt was simple in design, many of its features are still part of almost every nuclear power plant today, which speaks volumes about the lost seven decades in nuclear engineering. Developing countries can learn a great deal from what has been achieved in French electricity production, particularly in the ability to sustain the system and make it profitable. The French model of power production proves that properly managed nuclear energy can be a successful undertaking, and this helps the government promote it. Good management and documented positive results can be as effective as the fear of climate change in boosting nuclear energy. As can be seen, the notion of a sustainable global network of nuclear stations poses a long list of requirements all the way from conception to designing, building, operating and, finally, decommissioning.
