PARIS, Dec 6 Reuters Global electricity production from nuclear energy dropped by 4 last year from 2021, with the technology39;s share of gross electricity generation falling to its lowest since the 1980s, an industry report showed on Wednesday.

Nuclear energy generated 2,546 terawatthours TWh of electricity worldwide last year, accounting for 9.2 of total gross electricity generation, the annual World Nuclear Industry Status Report WNISR showed.

Proponents of nuclear say as a lowcarbon power source it could be vital in helping countries meet climate targets, but several plants around the world are coming to the end of their life expectancies and many new ones have faced delays.

The most nuclear power in the world is generated in the United States, followed by China.

Nuclear energy has regained some popularity recently as countries search for lowcarbon power sources, but long lead times, high costs and climate impacts put the prospect of nuclear as a solution at virtually zero, the WNISR said.

As of mid2023, a total of 407 reactors were operating in 32 countries, four less than a year earlier and 31 below a 2002 peak of 438, the report said.

The slow progress of construction has lifted the average age of a reactor to 31.4 years by the end of 2022, up from 31 years in mid2022, the report said.

Some 58 reactors representing 58.6 gigawatts GW of additional capacity were under construction by mid2023, five more than in 2022, with four in five reactors being built in…