China boosts nuclear energy: Approval granted for construction of 10 new reactors

Alsharq Tribune- Mohamed Otaify

The State Council of China has approved the construction of 10 new reactors, expressing confidence that nuclear energy will remain a central element in the country's transition to clean energy.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that China has approved the construction of at least 10 new reactors. Currently, 30 reactors are under construction in the country, accounting for nearly half of the total number worldwide. It is expected that by the end of the decade, China will surpass the US and become the world's largest producer of nuclear energy.

According to the local edition The Paper, the total cost of the 10 new reactors will be around 200 billion yuan ($27 billion). Four of these reactors have been ordered by China General Nuclear Power Corp for installation at its plants in Fangchenggang and Taishan. Other companies, including China National Nuclear Corp, State Power Investment Corp, and China Huaneng Group Co, have been approved for two reactors each.

According to a report from the China Electricity Council, China's nuclear capacity is expected to reach 65 gigawatts by the end of 2025, up from less than 60 gigawatts the previous year. By 2040, it is projected that the country's nuclear fleet will reach 200 gigawatts, accounting for about 10% of the total electricity generation.

The key to achieving this plan will be maintaining cost discipline. The cost of each of the 10 planned reactors is $2.7 billion, which aligns with recent projects in the US and Europe that have been accompanied by delays and cost overruns. For example, in the UK, the construction of two reactors at the Hinkley Point C site is expected to cost $63.7 billion.

China makes a breakthrough

At the end of 2023, China launched its first commercial fourth-generation nuclear reactor. The 200-megawatt China Huaneng power unit in Shidao Bay is the world's first high-temperature gas-cooled reactor.

This reactor differs from traditional nuclear reactors in that it uses helium instead of water to generate electricity.