Atomization worldwide capacity

Whereas new appHcations of lithium compounds were developed, commercial growth was slow. In 1953 worldwide sales of lithium products, expressed as lithium carbonate, were only ca 1000 metric tons (2). In 1954 the U.S. lithium industry underwent a sudden, very large expansion when the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission required large amounts of lithium hydroxide [1310-65-2] for its nuclear weapons program (see Nuclearreactors). Three domestic producers built 4500-t/yr plants to meet contract commitments with the U.S. government. When these government contracts ended in 1960, capacity exceeded demand and several operations were discontinued. 

Projections made in 1982 of worldwide nuclear generating capacity in place by 1990 and 2000 (Laue, 1982) were one-third to one-fifth of those estimated in 1973 and 1974. As of 1981, the installed nuclear generating capacity of International Atomic Energy Agency member states was 154 GWe with a projected linear growth to 430 GWe by 1990. 

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