Nuclear energy goal 'within reach'

China can meet its target of achieving 58 gigawatts of installed nuclear power capacity by 2020, despite slower approval for new nuclear power generators after the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The government took a series of measures to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities between 2011 and 2014, including security inspections of all facilities in operation and under construction, adopting the most stringent safety standards and improving the overall system for nuclear emergency response, said Xu Dazhe, director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, at a news conference.

The Chinese mainland now has 30 nuclear power generating units in operation and a total installed capacity of 28.31 GW. In addition, it has 24 units with a total installed capacity of 26.72 GW under construction, the largest number in the world, Xu said.