Slowing demand for electricity and tumbling prices for natural gas have eroded the economic rationale for nuclear power, which is extremely costly and technically challenging to develop. Westinghouse’s problems are already reducing Japan’s footprint in nuclear power, an industry it has nurtured for decades in the name of energy security. Even before the filing, Toshiba had essentially retired Westinghouse from the business of building nuclear power plants. The shrinking field is a challenge for the future of nuclear power, and for Toshiba’s revival plans. That mostly affects the American power companies for whom it is building reactors, analysts say.

Source: New York Times March 29, 2017 07:30 UTC