TEHRAN -- Production of electricity by nuclear power plants worldwide is forecast to reach 362,467 megawatts in 2005, compared with 349,922MW in 2000, representing an increase in excess of 12,000MW.

The Energy and Environmental Research Institute (EERI) quoting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that nuclear power generation capacity in industrialized countries is predicted to reach 280,342MW in year 2005 from 278,084MW in 2000, indicating slight growth.

The industrialized countries surveyed include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Britain divided into North America, Western Europe and Asia.

The U.S. would have the largest capacity for nuclear power generation, producing 97.7MW of electricity in 2005. France and Japan would occupy second and third positions with 62,920MW and 44,489MW respectively.

Nuclear power generation in the U.S. and Japan will increase by 191MW and 998MW respectively, whereas in France it will decline by 233MW.

Total nuclear power generation in East European and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is forecast to reach 46,203MW in 2005, showing an increase from 44,471MW in 2000. They include Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Armenia, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine.

Among these countries, Russia would occupy first position in nuclear power generation capacity producing 21,743MW in 2005.

Ukraine and Czech stand second and third with 11,207MW and 3,481MW respectively.

Nuclear power generation in Russia and the Czech Republic would increase by 1900MW and 1833MW respectively in 2005 when compared to 2000. There will be no change in Ukraine.

EERI adds that the total capacity for nuclear power generation in developing countries is estimated to reach 35,922MW in 2005.

This shows a considerable rise in production from 27,367MW in 2000.

The developing countries generating nuclear power are grouped under four categories. Asian category includes China, India, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan. Central and South American category comprises Argentina and Brazil, with the African and Middle Eastern category comprising South Africa and Iran respectively.

Among the developing nations of Asia, capacity for nuclear power generation in South Korea would be 15,850MW in 2005, indicating an increase from 12,990MW in 2000.

China and Taiwan would acquire the capacity to generate 6,597MW and 4,884Mw electricity from nuclear power in 2005. In Brazil it is expected to be 1,877MW showing no change compared to year 2000.

The Islamic Republic of Iran mentioned among the Middle Eastern countries is expected to generate 1,073MW of electricity from nuclear power in 2005.

Nuclear power generation in South Africa in the African category is expected to be 1,800MW in 2005, indicating no change in comparison with 2000.