China is undisputedly a nuclear powerhouse. This is true if we consider that it has the same number of nuclear reactors in operation as France: 56. Only the United States surpasses these two nations with its 94 active nuclear reactors. However, the ambition in this area The country led by Xi Jinping is much larger than that of France. China is building 30 more reactors and plans to develop another 37. It is likely that it will soon be on equal terms with the US in this area.
However, this is not the only reason why this Asian country has placed itself at the forefront of nuclear energy. Its greatest asset is its capacity for innovation. In June 2023, the Chinese Nuclear Safety Administration gave the green light to the molten salt and thorium reactor, dubbed TMSR-LF1. This machine is the first of its kind on the planet, and will presumably go into operation this year.
This nuclear reactor is located in the Minqin industrial complex in Gansu province, in northern China. It has a thermal capacity of 2 megawatts (MWt), and, although it will not be the first fourth-generation nuclear reactor in operation, nor the first to use thorium as fuel, it will be the first molten salt reactor to use this chemical element. However, the ambition of this Asian country does not end here; it already plans to build a larger capacity molten salt and thorium reactor by 2030.
China to launch five new nuclear power projects
The Chinese Government has approved five new projects nuclear power plants in Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Guangxi Autonomous Region. The Xi Jinping administration has confirmed that this measure is intended to consolidate its commitment to nuclear energy and strengthen its economy in order to achieve its annual economic growth target. Whatever the case, the important thing is that these five projects involve the development of 11 new nuclear reactors whose combined cost will reach 28 billion dollars.
Over the past five years, China has increased its budget specifically dedicated to investment in nuclear energy year after year.
He Zhaohui, an analyst at Guolian Securities, has confirmed that “the increase in the approval of new nuclear energy projects is destined to boost the growth of equipment suppliers and operators.” This statement is supported by the fact that since 2019 the Chinese government had not approved the construction of so many nuclear reactors togetherHowever, and it is important to keep this in mind, over the last five years China has increased year after year its budget specifically dedicated to investment in nuclear energy.
China currently operates 55 nuclear power plants, but the most striking thing is that 50% of the reactors under construction are located in this giant Asian country. The other 50% is shared between 15 countries, so 30 reactors are being developed in China and another 30 abroad, but very spread out. An interesting note: the country led by Xi Jinping has set itself the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, and to achieve this the government has confirmed that it will increasingly invest not only in nuclear energy, but also in wind and solar farms.
Image | Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
More information | SCMP
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