Nuclear+Power+In+China

Majority of China’s electricity is produced from fossil fuels and the rapid growth in electricity demand is due to its huge population which has indeed given rise to power shortages. Therefore, the much reliance on fossil fuels has led to the air pollution which thus made China the world’s largest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. Today, China is using more nuclear power than ever as their alternative source of energy instead of using fossil fuels. The first two nuclear plants were constructed in the mid-1980s at Daya Bay near Hong Kong and Qinshan which is in the south of Shanghai. With these two initial nuclear plants, it had become the turning point for China’s nuclear industry. In addition, China has launched further constructions of four other nuclear power plants in 2009 with locations in Zhejiang, Shandong and Hainan provinces. China has the most aggressive nuclear power expansion programs in the world targeting to build about 22 nuclear reactors by the year 2010 and 100 nuclear reactors by 2020. On 21 December 2009, the Chinese Vice Premier Le Keqiang and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon launched the Taishan nuclear power plant in Beijing thus marking the establishment of the biggest Sino-French new energy joint venture. The joint venture has a registered capital of about US$2.5 billion. This significant joint nuclear power project plays an active role in promoting the two countries’ usage of nuclear energy as well as their bilateral relations. With the use of advanced technology and both countries having had successful nuclear energy cooperation for several years, it would definitely help to beef up China’s development in nuclear energy, energy saving and reduction in emission gases.
 * __Future potential for further development : China __**
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The above map of China indicated the number of provinces with the announced intentions to build nuclear power plants on planned sites and many are already under construction or about to start, thus showing the aggressiveness of China’s nuclear power expansion programs. A majority of the current nuclear power plants are constructed in the coastal areas and they are moving towards the inland part. Since 2008, China has made a remarkable speed on their construction of nuclear power plants, even targeting to complete 7 to 9 nuclear power plants every year and eventually to reach more than 100 nuclear plants by the year 2020.