Nuclear Energy in the World: Power and Weapons

The first use of nuclear weapons started in 1942 with the Manhattan Project. Since the start of
this new era in the world, countless amounts of countries have used the power of nuclear for both good
and bad. From the bombing in Japan to using it to generate power in countries all over the world, such as
South Africa, America, Mexico, Japan, and more, nuclear power has drawn a new age to man and it is up
to us to determine how we use it. In the area of supplying energy, nuclear reactors work by having a
uranium isotope atom split in two in a process called fission, caused by the isotope capturing a moving
neutron. After the isotope splits, it releases energy in the form of heat, and also expels multiple neutrons
that could be captured by other uranium isotopes, starting a chain reaction that produces heat which is
then used to create steam to turn a turbine which runs a generator, providing energy. With weapons,
specifically nuclear bombs, the process works by carefully containing multiple radioactive objects and
having them undergo fission in an extremely small amount of time, releasing a massive amount of energy
and heat.
Africa does not seem like a continent that could not possibly have nuclear power or even
weapons, but that is a misconception. Africa, South Africa to be specific has two running power plants
that generating 5% of its electricity. Due to South Africas power plants it encouraged Sudan, Algeria,
Kenya, Niger, and Nigeria; to make plans to convert to nuclear power.South Africa constructed six guntype nuclear weapons and started building a seventh. Less than a decade South Africa abandoned its
nuclear weapons program,and joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty: prohibits the research, development, manufacture,stockpiling,
acquisition, testing, possession, control or stationing of nuclear explosive devices.
Europe has 185 nuclear power plant units as of 2013. France, Belgium and Slovakia use nuclear
power as their primary source of electricity. Russia still has 6,000 strategic nuclear weapons and 12,000
warheads for nonstrategic nuclear weapons. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
has been signed by the Russia, the United Kingdom, and France.UK is thought to retain a stockpile of
around 225 thermonuclear warheads. France has a stockpile of around 300 operational nuclear
warheads. The NPT aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to foster
the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of disarmament. The Treaty establishes a

safeguards system under the responsibility of the IAEA, which also plays a central role under the Treaty
in areas of technology transfer for peaceful purposes.
North America leads the world in nuclear power. The United States alone has 103 operational
reactors it is responsible for 30% of the worlds produced nuclear energy. Americas neighbor to the north,
Canada is one of the leading countries in nuclear technology. Canada and the U.S. continue to make
advancements in the nuclear field striving to make it more efficient and safe for both cities, people and the
environment. Mexico on the other hand relies more on its abundant hydrocarbon resources but has two
operational nuclear plants one which has also been turned into an institute for nuclear research. Finally
out of the three countries only the United States has nuclear weapons. Finished in 1945 as a means to
end World War Two America developed the first successful nuclear weapon of mass destruction. Since
then the U.S. has evolved its weaponry as well as creating international awareness and preemptive
measures on future construction of nuclear plants and weapons. These three countries have all signed
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to ensure nuclear energy is used safely and peacefully. Mexico has
even gone out to ensure all Latin American countries use nuclear energy responsibly and humanely by
drafting the Tlatelolco Treaty in 1967 which states just that (however it was signed by all Latin American
countries except for Argentina and Cuba.)
In South America there exists a total of four nuclear reactors. Two of these are in Brazil a country
who continues to make technological advancements in the nuclear field. Brazil is increasing its
dependence on nuclear power in order to replace its high and somewhat risky dependence on
hydroelectric power because of its vulnerability to the constant changing weather in Brazil. The other two
reactors are in Argentina who plans to also increase its nuclear capabilities. Argentina expects to finish
construction of its third reactor in the middle of 2013. These two countries are both parties of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty ensuring nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes.
In the Middle East nuclear energy is becoming more and more popular. While only Iran
possesses a working reactor many countries have already begun construction of their own. Saudi Arabia
for example is a world leader in oil exports but plans to construct 16 nuclear reactors in a matter of 20
years. Jordan has already begun its construction of its first reactor and plans to build more in the
future.Other countries such as Kazakhstan and Turkey which do not have reactors of their own have

cornered the market in Uranium sales.

Asia has been recognized as having a significant rate of growth in nuclear power. Japan, for
instance uses nuclear power for 30% of their electricity and aims to increase to 41% by 2017.
Furthermore, they plan on being able to reprocess the uranium and plutonium used in the reactors in
order to re-use it. In China, new power plants are being built at a high rate, mainly due to the fact that
demand for electricity in China rises each year. South Korea uses nuclear energy for 35% of its electricity
and rising. They plan to have 35 reactors and use nuclear energy for 59% of their electricity by 2030.
Finally, in North Korea, they had intended to begin use of nuclear power with a small nuclear reactor, but
use of nuclear material was focused instead weaponry, slowing the production of any power plants.
The continent of Australia uses virtually no nuclear power whatsoever. In Australia, the main
source of energy is coal, which leaves no need for nuclear power. However, there is an abundance of
uranium in Australia, which has led to the opening of multiple uranium mines with more mines planned to
open. Because of its great amount of uranium and lack of need for it, Australia mainly just exports
uranium to the rest of the world. Australia is currently the 3rd top producer of uranium in the world, behind
Canada and Kazakhstan.
Only 8 countries actually posses nuclear weapons of mass destruction.These countries are The
U.S.A., Russia, Britain, France, China, North Korea, India and Pakistan. Five of these countries(U.S.A.,
Britain, France, Russia and China) have signed or ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty . This
treaty prohibits the construction or further development of nuclear arms and encourages nuclear
disarmament. North Korea was once a party in this treaty has recently seceded from it. India, Pakistan,
Israel,and southern Sudan are the only countries (besides North Korea who succeeded) who did not or
have not agreed to the terms of the treaty calling it unethical because it ensures the countries who have
nuclear arms are the only ones who will ever have them and remain a global power.

Works Cited
"How Does A Nuclear Bomb Work?" HubPages. HubPages Inc. 22 Oct. 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2013
"Nuclear." NTI. MIIS. Feb. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2013
World-Nuclear. World Nuclear Association. 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2013