China details plans for floating nuclear power plants to exploit ocean resources

“China, France and Britain are all leading powers in peaceful use of nuclear energy, and we should be full of confidence in this multilateral cooperation”, said Xu Dazhe, director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, at a press conference.

The official, however, said the government is looking into the feasibility of building nuclear power plants in inland areas, noting that the decision should be based on the demand for energy and ensuring safety should be a prerequisite.

China plans to develop floating nuclear power plants in an effort to double its atomic energy capacity by 2020.

“China’s nuclear power generating units are mainly along the eastern coastal areas because the development of nuclear power should meet demand first”, Xu said, adding the country’s eastern region is more economically developed.

The Chinese government is planning to form a national nuclear emergency response task force that will be in charge of handling any serious accidents, as well as take part in overseas operations, reported China Daily.

Since 2014, China has turned reefs into artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea through land reclamation and has constructed facilities like airstrips on them.

Earlier this month, China General Nuclear Power (CGN) and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop the offshore nuclear power platform. “Being able to bring power to a site for specific purposes, then move on to another site, has logistical benefits”, he wrote in a blog on the Forbes website on Jan 18.

China now has 30 nuclear reactors in operation, with a capacity of 28.3 gigawatts, Xu said.

China intends to increase its installed atomic power capacity to 58GW by 2020, for which it will have another 30GW under construction. The plan is to raise its total nuclear power capacity to 88 GW by 2020 and to 150 GW by 2030, making it the world’s largest nuclear energy producer.

“Under the leadership of the State Council, or China’s Cabinet, China’s national nuclear accident emergency coordination commission and the national emergency office will have unified authority to deploy the team”.

China suspended approvals of new plants following the Fukushima nuclear disaster after a tsunami struck in March 2011.

Elaborating on the promotion of nuclear security, the white paper said China placed “equal emphasis” on development and safety.