Six new nuclear power reactors were connected to the world's electricity grids in 2011, adding over 4,000 MW of generation capacity. Thirteen units were closed permanently, all but one as a direct result of the accident at Fukushima Daiichi.
The six grid connections included two units in China (Lingao II unit 2 and Qinshan II unit 4), plus Kaiga 4 in India, Bushehr in Iran and Kalinin 4 in Russia. Together, the new units added 4,014 MW of capacity. Additionally, the Chinese Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) was also connected to the grid for the first time in mid 2011, and was expected to ramp up to its full 20 MW power before the end of 2011.
11,272 MW of nuclear capacity were lost through the permanent closures of nuclear reactors. Although thirteen reactors shut down in 2011 only one of those had reached the end of its natural life: the UK's 217 MW Oldbury 2 Magnox unit, which was connected to the grid in 1968 and finally powered down at the end of June 2011. Oldbury 1 remains in operation but is now scheduled for closure in February 2012, 45 years after its first criticality.
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