China "Get''s it."I'll put this on the MEGA board also.
https://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0528ChinaNuke0528.html
China aims to ramp up nuke power by 20-fold
Plan boosts output by the end of 2030
Akihito Teramura
Yomiuri Shimbun
May. 28, 2007 12:00 AM
BEIJING - The Chinese government plans to boost the country's nuclear power generation capability by up to 20 times its current level by the end of 2030, a Chinese official close to the plan said Saturday.
The National Development and Reform Commission, which administers China's energy policy, aims to increase nuclear power generation to between 120 million and 160 million kilowatts, the official said during a speech. He spoke at a strategic energy forum held in Beijing, which was sponsored by the Chinese Construction Ministry.
At present, China has 10 nuclear reactors, which are capable of generating 8 million kilowatts.
China has previously announced that it wanted to increase nuclear power output to 40 million kilowatts by the end of 2020.
To attain its goal under the new plan, China would need to build in excess of 100 nuclear reactors, each capable of generating 1 million kilowatts, over 20 years.
If the plan is realized, China would become the world's largest generator of nuclear power, surpassing Japan, France and the United States.
However, China's plan to build multiple nuclear plants has prompted fears of intensified international competition for uranium, which is used as fuel for nuclear power generation.
It is forecast that the country, which has recently registered annual economic growth of around 10 percent, will drastically expand its energy consumption.
China has apparently concluded that it needs to increase the percentage of energy generated by nuclear power, because coal-generated thermal power causes serious environmental pollution.
Officials have been on a diplomatic drive to import badly needed energy resources.
Last year, China reached an agreement with the Australian government to procure uranium on condition that it would not use the nuclear material for military purposes.
China has already started stockpiling uranium for strategic purposes, and has taken other steps to secure the commodity in preparation for its numerous new reactors.