China to Surpass South Korea and Russia in Nuclear Plant Output

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Nuclear Power - Economics, Design, & Industry

Date posted: 07/22/15

China is set to become Asian nuclear powerhouse and predicted to surpass South Korea and Russia in generating energy capacity by 2020. The country has been increasing its nuclear output in recent years which, according to new analysis, it plans to leverage so it can take an ownership role throughout the entire supply chain. Data from the EIA (Energy Information Administration) shows nuclear output currently makes up slightly more than 2% of China total power generation. However, the Chinese government has revealed it wants to reach a goal of at least 15% of energy consumption from non-fossil fuel sources, including nuclear, hydroelectricity and other renewable resources. By the end of this year, it means Chinese output will grow at such a pace that it will find itself placed only behind the U.S. and France. An additional 23 gigawatts of nuclear capacity is also being constructed to become operational in the next five years. The U.S. EIA said that all of the Chinese nuclear plants are located along the east coast and southern parts of the country, near most of the power demand. Following Japanese coastal Fukushima nuclear plant damage from tsunamis in 2011, China has increasingly considered construction of inland reactors. China also plans to take an ownership role throughout the entire nuclear supply chain. China intends to build strategic and commercial uranium stockpiles through overseas purchases and continue to develop domestic production in Inner Mongolia (north Central China) and Xinjiang (northwest China). China is also developing nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities, which are expected to come online by 2017, according to the WNA. China currently imports all of its reactor technology, but the country is in the process of designing its own large pressurized water reactors, the CAP1400, through a technology transfer with U.S. - based Westinghouse. The EIA said China signed agreements with several countries including Romania, Argentina, Turkey, etc.