China Could Build 30 'Belt and Road' Nuclear Reactors by 2030: Report

China is in the middle of a reactor-building programme it hoped would serve as a shop window to promote its homegrown designs and technologies overseas.

Representative image.
Shanghai: China could build as many as 30 overseas nuclear reactors through its involvement in the "Belt and Road" initiative over the next decade, a senior industry official told a meeting of China's political advisory body this week.

Wang Shoujun, a standing committee member of the China People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told delegates on Wednesday that China needed to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by "Belt and Road" and give more financial and policy support to its nuclear sector.

He said China needed to improve research and development, localise the production of key nuclear components, and grow both the domestic and foreign nuclear markets to give full play to the country's "comprehensive advantages" in costs and technology.

He said 41 "Belt and Road" nations already had nuclear power programmes or were planning to develop them, and China only needed to secure a 20% market share to create five million new jobs in the sector, according to the news portal.

CPPCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China is in the middle of a reactor-building programme it hoped would serve as a shop window to promote its homegrown designs and technologies overseas, especially its own third-generation reactor design known as Hualong One.

But the pace of construction at home has slowed down amid technological problems and delays at some key projects, as well as a suspension of new approvals that lasted over three years.

Wang, according to BJX.com.cn, said there was currently overcapacity among local nuclear manufacturers, but the domestic market value for nuclear equipment could reach more than 48 billion yuan a year within two years. He didn't say how much it was worth currently.



Source : NEWS 18 

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