Timeline · 1972

The world's nuclear fleet in 1972

In 1972, 121 nuclear reactors were operating in 18 countries, 31.1 GWe net, with 142 under construction.

Compared with 1971, the operating fleet grew by 17 reactors. 16 reactors were connected to the grid that year, 9,484 MWe, mostly in United States (8), Canada (1) and France (1). 2 units were permanently shut down, 64 MWe. Slovakia connected its first nuclear reactor in 1972. The countries with the most operating capacity were United States (13,302 MWe), United Kingdom (4,515 MWe) and France (2,466 MWe).

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Connected to the grid in 1972

Unit	Country	Type	Model	MWe
Pickering A3	Canada	PHWR	CANDU 500A	515
Bugey 1	France	GCR	UNGG	540
Stade	Germany	PWR	Siemens	640
Rajasthan 1	India	PHWR	—	134
Mihama 2	Japan	PWR	Mitsubishi (2-loop)	470
Novovoronezh 1-4	Russia	PWR	VVER V-179	385
Bohunice A1	Slovakia	HWGCR	KS 150	93
Vandellos 1	Spain	GCR	UNGG	480
Maine Yankee	United States	PWR	CE (DRY)	860
Pilgrim 1	United States	BWR	BWR-3 (WET)	677
Point Beach 2	United States	PWR	WH 2-loop (DRY)	591
Quad Cities 1	United States	BWR	BWR-3 (Mark 1)	908
Quad Cities 2	United States	BWR	BWR-3 (Mark 1)	911
Surry 1	United States	PWR	WH 3-loop (DRY)	838
Turkey Point nuclear power station 3	United States	PWR	WH 3-Loop (DRY)	837
Vermont Yankee	United States	BWR	BWR-4 (WET)	605

Shut down in 1972

Unit	Country	Type	Model	MWe	Grid connection
Fermi 1	United States	FBR	—	61	1966
Saxton	United States	PWR	unknown	3	1967

Countries by operating capacity in 1972

#	Country	Reactors	MWe	Under construction
1	United States	31	13,302	58
2	United Kingdom	29	4,515	11
3	France	11	2,466	4
4	Canada	6	2,023	5
5	Russia	11	1,772	11
6	Japan	6	1,718	12
7	Germany	8	1,543	14
8	Switzerland	3	1,103	—
9	Spain	3	1,067	—
10	Italy	3	563	1
11	Sweden	2	483	5
12	India	2	300	4
13	Slovakia	1	93	2
14	Pakistan	1	90	—
15	Netherlands	1	55	1
16	Puerto Rico	1	18	—
17	Belgium	1	10	3
18	Panama	1	10	—
19	Argentina	0	0	1
20	Armenia	0	0	1
21	Brazil	0	0	1
22	Bulgaria	0	0	2
23	Finland	0	0	2
24	Kazakhstan	0	0	1
25	South Korea	0	0	1
26	Taiwan	0	0	1
27	Ukraine	0	0	1