The crisis that is changing the world energy map
The tension with Iran is not only a security problem. It is an earthquake for the energy markets. And the shock is having an unexpected effect: it is reviving atomic energy projects that many thought were dead.
Asia and Africa are at the forefront of this movement. They are the regions most exposed to any interruption in the supply of oil and gas from the Middle East. Uncertainty is pushing them to look for alternatives, quickly.
While Europe and the United States grapple with high prices, on the other side of the world the response is more structural. It’s not just about paying more, but about changing the rules of the game.
A historic turn after Fukushima
The most revealing thing is happening in countries that already had nuclear experience, but with recent traumas. Look what happens:
- South Korea is already increasing production at its existing plants.
- Taiwan and Japan, the most psychologically affected by the Fukushima disaster in 2011, are actively reviewing policies that limited or closed their facilities.
It is a profound change of mentality. The fear of a nuclear accident is being overtaken by the fear of a chronic energy crisis.
But this goes further. The race is not just for those who already have reactors. Nations that had never seriously considered atomic energy are now accelerating projects. It is a desperate search for energy sovereignty in an increasingly volatile world.
The message is clear: when security of supply is called into question, even the most controversial options come back to the table. And this time, with an urgency that we have not seen in decades.
