Nuclear power boss calls for massive expansion

A top nuclear industry executive has called for the mass production of Hualong One reactors, with priority given to China's third-generation nuclear technology in future nuclear power projects.

He Yu, chairman of China General Nuclear Power Corp, says China should build four to six nuclear reactors annually, using the domestically developed third-generation reactor Hualong One to 2020, to ensure that the capacity of nuclear power in China reaches at least 150 gigawatts by 2030.

"China needs to build at least 10 million-kilowatt nuclear power units each year to achieve the emission reduction plan mentioned in the Government Work Report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang," says He, who has been attending the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

"The pace of nuclear power projects in recent years is not in accordance with this target, and it's necessary to make sure the nuclear industry gets back on track."

China's nuclear power development was put on hold after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, with approval for new nuclear plants suspended and a nationwide safety review launched after the incident.

According to He, nuclear energy plays an irreplaceable role in China's energy security and energy structure optimization, while also helps reduce air pollution caused by coal-fired power generation.

China added about 8 GW of nuclear power capacity last year, boosting its installed capacity to about 34 GW, according to BMI Research, which provides macroeconomic, industry and financial market analysis.

The Hualong One reactor is not only safe and technically mature but also economically competitive, He says.

China's energy sector is dominated by coal, which accounts for 64 percent of primary energy use, far above the global average of around 30 percent, he says.

The government has pledged that renewable energy will play an integral role in the push for greener growth, boosting the share of nonfossil energy to 15 percent by 2020 and 20 percent by 2030, with coal consumption reduced to 62 percent of energy use by 2020.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn