Nuclear Power in China
(Updated June 2013)
- Mainland China has 17 nuclear power reactors in operation, 28 under construction, and more about to start construction.
- Additional reactors are planned, including some of the
world's most advanced, to give a five- or six-fold increase in nuclear
capacity to at least 58 GWe by 2020, then possibly 200 GWe by 2030, and
400 GWe by 2050.
- China has become largely self-sufficient in reactor design and construction, as well as other aspects of the fuel cycle.
Most of mainland China's electricity is produced from fossil fuels
(80% from coal, 2% from oil, 1% from gas in 2006) and hydropower (15%).
Two large hydro projects are recent additions: Three Gorges of 18.2 GWe
and Yellow River of 15.8 GWe. Rapid growth in demand has given rise to
power shortages, and the reliance on fossil fuels has led to much air
pollution. The economic loss due to pollution is put by the World Bank
at almost 6% of GDP,
1
and the new leadership from March 2013 is expected to tackle this.* The
State Council estimates it may spend CNY 2.37 trillion ($380 billion)
on conservation and emissions cuts in the five years through 2015. In
2009 power shortages were most acute in central provinces, particularly
Hubei, and in December the Central China Grid Co. posted a peak load of
94.6 GW.
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