ABSTRACT
Nuclear energy, claims the industry, is experiencing something of a renaissance. Although the industry has for some years been rolling back, particularly in Western Europe, there is renewed interest especially in rapidly industrialising countries like India and China. The massive negative impact from the accidents at Three Mile Island in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986 caused a halt to reactor development in the USA, with programmes in countries like Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden being reversed by popular referenda reflecting the spread of deep concerns in civil society about environmental protection, weapons proliferation and health risks.
