Expanding the Nuclear Energy Programme

Abstract

After the two nuclear power projects were initiated in the late 1970s and early 1980s, nuclear energy development in China stalled, primarily because there was no coherent policy from the central government, no voice speaking on nuclear energy in high places, and no institution at the central level willing and able to host its development. Nuclear energy became a subject driven by political and diplomatic concerns and specific and local interests. It did not become an energy issue until the 2000s, when power shortages hit two-thirds of the provinces from 2002 on and environmental pollution, because of a heavy reliance on coal, became a more pressing challenge for the Chinese government. Looking for alternatives led to a new call for expanding nuclear energy in China. In March 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao said at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the State Council that ‘China needs to change its structure of its electricity generation; expand its hydro capacity, optimise its thermal development, actively promote nuclear energy, appropriately develop gas-fired electricity and encourage renewable energy’ (调整电源结构, 大力开发水电, 优化发展煤电, 积极推进核电, 适度发展天然气, 鼓励新能源发电). By June 2010, China had 11 nuclear reactors in operation and another 24 under construction (see Table 3.1).