China to have 110 nuclear reactors by 2030

BEIJING - China is set to become a global nuclear energy player with 110 operational nuclear reactors by 2030. Power Construction Corp of China Ltd – also known as PowerChina – said exports of indigenous technologies are to be a “key thrust” in the nation’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), with the total scale of nuclear power generation from reactors both under construction and in operation in China reaching 88 gigawatts by the end of 2020.

Though it is only a draft proposal, the State-owned firm said it will “set the tone during the annual legislative and political advisory sessions in 2016”, according to the China Daily, which said nuclear is set to be one of the major beneficiaries of China embarking on a clean energy drive to reduce emissions.

At the same time, China is looking to popularise its home-grown pressurised-water nuclear technology known as Hualong One both at home and abroad. China National Nuclear Corp Chairman, Sun Qin, said: “Third-generation nuclear technology meets the highest requirements for global safety standards and has a competitive edge over others in terms of economic performance and reliability.” www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).