Nuclear power on the rise except in UN watchdog's home, Austria

Published on 30/05/2025 – 16:46 GMT+2•Updated
17:00

From Belgium to Denmark, Bangladesh to Egypt, nuclear power is making a political and policy comeback and drew advocates from across the globe to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Vienna headquarters this week, though it remains less loved in the Austrian home of the UN agency.

With big tech looking at nuclear energy to power future AI operations and policymakers increasingly mulling the potential of small modular reactors – mini nuclear plants that could be factory-built and power a small town, the International Atomic Energy Agency has noticed more and more countries interested in its expertise.

That is why the Vienna-based nuclear watchdog invited representatives from across the globe to its headquarters this week for a convention to deep dive into the good, bad and ugly of what advocates call a very carbon-friendly fuel.

“At the IAEA, we’re seeing a number of member states that have expressed interest in nuclear power for several reasons related to growing energy demands, climate change and other national considerations,” Matthew van Sickle, a senior nuclear power engineer told Euronews.

The IAEA offers expertise to member states on all the main challenges from financing to human resources to communication strategies to garner public support.

The Zwentendorf referendum

But in Austria, where the IAEA has been based since it came about in 1957, a referendum in the 1970s resulted in the Austrian National Assembly passing a law prohibiting the use of nuclear energy in Austria.

The outcome was an outstanding win for participatory democracy, but a major loss for the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant, which cost €1 billion to build and was ready to operate.

Situated in Lower Austria alongside the river Danube, today the plant has become a quirky Homer Simpson-inspired tourist attraction and the biggest nuclear training centre in the whole of Europe.

Peter Schinnerf, who works at the plant as a guide and trainer, told Euronews that the plant has more emotional than financial worth today. “This facility was never used,” he said.

Since 2017, the plant has also been hosting the annual Shut Down festival – a massive techno festival attracting revellers from all across Austria and beyond.