The Chinese government has approved the construction of ten new nuclear reactors, highlighting the strategic role of nuclear energy in the country’s transition to clean energy sources, reports the Baltimore Chronicle, citing Bloomberg.
The State Council of China has greenlit projects that involve investments of approximately 200 billion yuan (about 27 billion US dollars). Four of the reactors will be constructed by China General Nuclear Power Corp. at sites in Fangchenggang and Taishan. An additional two reactors will be built respectively by China National Nuclear Corp., State Power Investment Corp., and China Huaneng Group Co.
According to Bloomberg, this marks the fourth consecutive year that China has approved the construction of at least ten new nuclear reactors annually. It is expected that by the end of 2025, the total nuclear energy capacity in the country will reach 65 gigawatts. By 2040, this figure is projected to grow to 200 gigawatts, which would account for about 10% of China’s total electricity generation.
Experts note that the average cost of a single reactor in China is around 2.7 billion US dollars—significantly lower than in the United States or Europe. This cost efficiency is attributed to government funding and access to low-interest loans, which help reduce construction expenses.
Thus, China continues to actively develop nuclear energy as a core element of its strategy to shift toward clean energy sources.
Earlier we wrote that сhina tests new non-nuclear hydrogen bomb with prolonged fireball effect.