Following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, five countries announced political nuclear phase-out agreements; Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden.
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Thirty two countries have developed civil nuclear energy programmes since the birth of nuclear technology in 1942 during the second world war. Following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden announced political nuclear phase-out agreements.
Italy held a national referendum in 1987 and shut down its nuclear power stations in 1990. However nuclear reactors have continued to operate in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Sweden reversed its nuclear phase-out in 2009 and has decided to construct more nuclear power stations in response to climate change.
Germany and Belgium are considering extending their nuclear phase-out deadlines by a further decade and may possibly reverse their phase-out agreements, although this remains politically controversial.
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