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Nuclear reactor build times

How long each reactor took to build — from construction start to first grid connection — based on the Global Nuclear Power Tracker.

Fastest countries (average)

CountryAvg build timeSample
1. Japan4.1 yr16 reactors
2. Italy5.2 yr4 reactors
3. Ukraine5.8 yr4 reactors
4. Canada6.0 yr6 reactors
5. Sweden6.0 yr4 reactors
6. France6.1 yr21 reactors
7. South Korea6.2 yr6 reactors
8. China6.4 yr15 reactors
9. Germany6.4 yr20 reactors
10. Switzerland6.5 yr4 reactors

Fastest reactors ever built

ReactorCountryModelBuild timeGrid year
Marcoule nuclear power plantFranceunknown1 yr1956
Vallecitos nuclear power plantUnited States of Americaunknown1 yr1957
Big Rock Point nuclear power plantUnited States of Americaunknown2 yr1962
SM-1 nuclear power plantUnited States of Americaunknown2 yr1957
HamaokaJapanBWR-43 yr1974
OnagawaJapanBWR-53 yr1983
ShimaneJapanBWR-33 yr1973
TomariJapanM (2-loop)3 yr1988
TsurugaJapanMitsubishi advanced pressurized water reactor (APWR)3 yr1969
Kola NPPRussiaVVER 6003 yr1973
Leningrad NPPRussiaRBMK-10003 yr1973
Obrigheim nuclear power plantGermanyunknown3 yr1968
Wuergassen nuclear power plantGermanyunknown3 yr1971
Enrico Fermi nuclear power plantItalyWH 4LP3 yr1964
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plantJapanBWR-43 yr1970

Slowest reactors

ReactorCountryModelBuild timeGrid year
BushehrIranVVER V-44636 yr2011
Watts Bar nuclear power plantUnited States of AmericaWH 4LP (ICECND)23 yr1996
Rostov NPPRussiaVVER V-32020 yr2001
Comanche Peak nuclear power plantUnited States of AmericaWH 4LP (DRYAMB)16 yr1990
Diablo Canyon nuclear power plantUnited States of AmericaWH 4LP (DRYAMB)16 yr1984
Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant SlovakiaSlovakiaVVER V-21315 yr1998
HartlepoolUnited KingdomAP30015 yr1983
THTR-300 nuclear power plantGermanyPebble bed reactor14 yr1985
Seabrook nuclear power plantUnited States of AmericaWH 4LP (DRYAMB)14 yr1990
Shoreham nuclear power plantUnited States of AmericaBWR14 yr1986
TemelínCzech RepublicVVER V-32013 yr2000
N.A.P.SIndiaHorizontal Pressure Tube type13 yr1989
Laguna VerdeMexicoBWR-513 yr1989
NPP CernavodaRomaniaCANDU 613 yr1996
Heysham 1United KingdomAGR13 yr1983

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