Nuclear power has a distinct global dimension and its potentially wide­spread deployment will bring to the world an intense commercial and fruitful technological interchange, with the potential to improve other tech­nologies too. It demands modern science and high technology and requires a complex fuel cycle and, as such, its global introduction will create an exchange of experts who will disseminate scientific and technological knowledge and experience for the benefit of every country involved.

During the pioneering years, the so-called nuclear countries developed many different technologies for the peaceful use of nuclear power. Although many prototypes were tested, today those technologies have been reduced to light water reactors (LWR) in the form of pressurized water reactors (PWR) and boiling water reactors (BWR), first developed in the United States and in the old Soviet Union, and heavy water reactors (HWR), the CANDU models, which have been developed in Canada and India. The UK chose to continue with their advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR). Other industrialized countries have developed their own copies: France, in par­ticular, developed its own PWR models, the former West Germany several PWR and BWR versions, and Sweden a BWR reactor system. France and Germany also developed the EPR model which is now promoted by the French company, Areva.

Other countries, in particular Japan, South Korea, Italy and Spain, bought several PWR and BWR models and established a well-developed scientific and technical infrastructure. In 1987, Italy decided to cancel and dismantle all its nuclear power plants, whilst in 1983 Spain decided to establish a moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants. By contrast, Japan and South Korea decided to continue their nuclear development and have now become providers of nuclear designs. The now united Germany decided in 2000 to dismantle its well-developed nuclear industry. More recently, after installing different foreign models, China has been able to develop its own PWR model.

It is expected that light water reactors (with possibly a few heavy water reactors) will be the preferred option in the near future, supplied by a limited number of providers. The country importing the technology will have an opportunity to participate in the design, manufacturing of compo­nents, assembly and construction of its plants, and will be responsible for their operation and the management of radioactive waste and used fuel. Moreover, the technology associated with the fuel cycle is equally compli­cated and global. Uranium mining and milling could be performed by nationals of the countries where reserves are found. Enrichment and fuel manufacture are more complex technologies but they can be managed in many countries. Reprocessing is more technology intensive and non-prolif­eration sensitive, and may not be open to all. The activities mentioned above need international transportation of heavy components, radioactive materi­als and nuclear fuels. All these activities create positive international com­merce and a transfer of technology.