State-run China Daily stated that nuclear power generation will reach around 88 GW by the end of 2020, citing government proposals to put forward a draft five-year energy plan for the years 2016-2020.
This draft plan indicates that China will invest $578 billion to set up new nuclear power plants, in order to meet 10 per cent of its energy needs by this method by 2030.
China currently has the world’s third-largest coal known coal reserves, and nearly 70 per cent of its energy needs currently comes from coal. China burns as much coal as the rest of the world combined, which makes it a serious polluter.
At present, China has 30 nuclear reactors in operation with another 21 under construction. The projected expansion of nuclear power is a core component of the government’s efforts to curb dependence on coal.
China has only recently began issuing new plant approvals and construction permits following Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011.