Chinese nuclear target revised down to 40 GW by 2015

• 12 years ago (2012-10-26)
• Junior Isles

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As part of post-Fukushima adjustments to its nuclear policy, the Chinese government has lowered its target for construction of nuclear power plants by 2015, notably by abandoning the construction more nuclear reactors at inland locations.

A newly released government white paper states that the government plans to have 40 GW of nuclear power capacity installed by 2015, and pledges strict safety standards. Though unstated in the Chinese media, this is a reduction in the target and departure from the country’s current Five-Year Plan which sets a target of 50 GW.

China had 12.54 GW of installed nuclear capacity at the end of 2011, according to the white paper. Therefore, the lower target still involves a more than tripling of current electricity generation from nuclear plants.

Nuclear power currently accounts for only 1.8 per cent of China’s electricity generation, far below the global average of 14 per cent.

“China will invest more in nuclear power technological innovations, promote application of advanced technology, improve the equipment level, and attach great importance to personnel training,” the paper states.

Both the International Atomic Energy Agency and Chinese regulators had previously expressed concern, even before the Fukushima accident, that China’s nuclear power programme was expanding so fast that it lacked enough skilled engineers to run reactors safely.

The Chinese government had been planning a relaxation of its usual policy of only building civilian reactors on coastal peninsulas, and allow the construction of civilian reactors in seven inland provinces with large power demand, but these plans have now been delayed.