China Launches Nuclear Power Development Strategy

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The National Development and Reform Commission's (NDRC) plans on national nuclear power development (2005-20) was recently approved by the State Council, the NDRC announced on its website.

China is one of a few countries with a complete nuclear industry system China has a basic nuclear power industry system in the design, manufacture, construction and operation of nuclear power stations with pressurized water reactors. In order to promote the construction of nuclear power actively and to shorten the gap with advanced nuclear power levels in the world, the NDRC organized the plans.

The plans comprise five parts: the status quo of nuclear power development; the purpose of nuclear power in China; guidelines and objectives for nuclear power development in China; details on a technical development route, independent development strategy, site development and protection, layout and schedule, nuclear fuel, and an investment estimate; and policy arrangement.

According to the plans, the installed capacity of nuclear power in operation will reach 40 million kilowatts in 2020, with about 18 million kilowatts of nuclear power projects under construction. The proportion of nuclear power in the total installed capacity in China will increase from less than the current 2% to 4%, and the annual output of nuclear power will reach 260-280 billion kilowatt-hours in 2020. Construction of these projects requires an estimated total investment of more than $60 billion.

According to the plans, based on the import, assimilation and absorption of new generation of nuclear power stations with 1,000-megawatt (MW) pressurized water reactors, China will independently design and manufacture advanced pressurized water-reactor technology and be capable of building a large quantity of Chinese nuclear power stations in 2020. To ensure the implementation of projects specified in the plans, the state will provide favorable policies on taxation and investments for these support projects in realizing the nation's nuclear power independence as well as the enterprises that manufacture nuclear power equipment in China.

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