China’s Nuclear Power 2020 Plan

Speeding up nuclear power growth is of great significance to securing state energy safety, optimizing the energy source structure, protecting the eco-environment and reducing greenhouse emissions. In September, 2009, president Hu Jintao announced at the UN Climate Change Summit that China would accelerate the development of both renewable energy and nuclear power. Also, on 25 November, 2009, at the State Council Standing Committee conference, premier Wen Jiabao declared that by 2020 China will have achieved its strategic objective of reducing Co2 emissions by 40% to 50% compared with 2005. Currently, developing nuclear power is one of the realistic and effective approaches to replacing fossil-centered power generation on a large scale and to gradually achieving the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emission. Above all, nuclear power development provides China with an unprecedented opportunity.

Nuclear power development in China has begun a new and fast growth phase. The nuclear power capacity that is either already in operation, in early development, or approved for construction, is in excess of 60 million kW. The power capacity could reach 70 to 90 million kW by 2020. According to China’s mid-long term development plan, dozens of nuclear power plants will also be constructed from the coast to inland.