What's Behind China's Breakthrough in Atomic Energy Production

China sees the atomic energy boom with the number of nuclear power stations in the mainland soaring. However, the Celestial Empire harbors a more ambitious goal seeking to boost the construction of China-made atomic stations abroad, commentators told Sputnik, shedding light on Beijing’s competitive advantages.
China is determined to gain leading positions on the global nuclear energy market, commentators told Sputnik, adding that Beijing’s breakthrough in the development of peaceful atomic technologies is closely connected with the country’s One Belt and One Road initiative (OBOR).
“[The construction] of nuclear power plants as well as Chinese high-speed railways is one of the most important fields of cooperation… within the framework of the OBOR project,” Wang Zhimin, head of the Center for the Study of the Globalization and Modernization of China with the Institute of Foreign Economy and Trade, told Sputnik China.
The Chinese scholar explained that the country possesses cutting-edge technologies in the atomic energy sphere: “In particular, Hualong One is the recognized leader in the line of nuclear reactors of the third generation in the world; it reflects the highest level of China’s achievements in the nuclear power field.”
On the other hand, Wang called attention to the relatively low cost of construction of nuclear power plants by China abroad. Simultaneously, the safety record of China-made atomic power stations is comparatively high.
The scholar believes that all countries which maintain cooperation with Beijing are interested in China’s assistance in the construction of nuclear power plants: “These are, for example, Pakistan, Iran, other countries of the Middle East, Central Asia, and even a number of developed countries,” Wang emphasized.
He noted that yet another promising area is the development of collaboration with global established economies of Europe and the US. To illustrate his point, the scholar cited the Sino-French cooperation in the construction of the Hinkley Point C in Great Britain.
“In the long run, there is the possibility of a partnership between Chinese companies and their counterparts from the United States and Canada,” Wang emphasized. “The development of cooperation with established economies in the area of peaceful atomic energy… is an important trend for China, which is paving the way for the country’s access to the world market of export services in this sphere.”
Anton Khlopkov, director of the Energy and Security Center think-tank, echoed Wang: “China is especially attractive because being a new player on the world market, that it is ready not only to build [nuclear power stations] at a quite cheap price, but also to invest in relevant projects,” he highlighted adding that “today, when the cost of borrowed money is high enough, it is doubly valuable.”
For his part, Sergei Pikin, head of the Energy Development Fund, rates China’s potential in the sphere of nuclear energy, noting, however, that the Celestial Empire is becoming a competitor for not just Russia but other global players in the atomic market.
“Undoubtedly, China has gained immense experience in the construction of nuclear power plants in cooperation with Russia,” Pikin said, adding that the country “is also known for the ability to actively copy the best achievements of the global industrial industry.”
According to the energy specialist, following the Fukushima disaster in Japan the nuclear energy market has shrunk. However, the energy-deficient Asian region is likely to rely on atomic power.
At the same time, the security issues related to the development of atomic technologies has taken on a new significance in the Middle East and Central Asia — the regions heavily affected by the spread of terrorism threat, Pikin pointed out.
According to the commentators, in the next five years, China will be able to increase the share of nuclear power in the country’s energy balance.
Citing Professor Lin Boqiang of Xiamen University, Chinese media outlet Global Times reported Monday that in the period from 2012 to 2017, China accounted for more than 90 percent of the world’s new nuclear projects.
The media outlet added that “the containment dome for the K2 project of Pakistan’s Karachi nuclear power plant using Hualong One [atomic reactor] was successfully installed on Friday.”
Besides this, China’s nuclear power industry is making progress in the UK and Argentina, Global Times noted, referring in particular to the agreement signed by China General Nuclear Power Corp (CGN), French energy company EDF and the British government for the Hinkley Point C project in the UK. Additionally, CGN is expected to install its reactor at another plant in the UK at Bradwell in Essex.
Meanwhile, “nuclear power reached a record high of 3.9 percent of China’s total power generation in the first half of this year,” the media outlet noted, adding that “the number of nuclear power plants that are in operation in the Chinese mainland has reached 36, ranking fourth globally.”




4 thoughts on “What's Behind China's Breakthrough in Atomic Energy Production”

  1. The british are smart, they ditched their bloated empire to ensure their own soverign survival, which includes things like handing over their failing hinckley power plant to the chinese and the chinese are doing it up safely and efficiently. Thus britain gets cheap reliable power and china gets political standing. Win/win.
    Wheras jewSA and Cucknada would rather die clinging onto their pride than make compromises for their very own survival.
    Britain also houses a large russian population showing that both “nuclear competitors” can coexist peacefully in their respective markets.
    And this wouldve been quashed if britain had remained in the EU, being forced to subsidise germanys meagre coal production and saudi arabias corrupt overpriced oil exports. So thanks to brexit, this increased standard of living in britain can proceed peacefully and swiftly. again: win/win.

  2. In Australia anti-nuclear rhetoric from so-called greens and progressives have ruined industrial capacity to the point where the economy is severely crippled and desperate – factories cannot either afford or be allowed to have the necessary energy to produce both goods and jobs. Now a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment may wrap-up the local political ethos as one whereby the average voter is simply brain-washed by LCD rhetoric into believing that anything like OBOR (and therefore nuclear infrastructure from Chinese finance and know-how) is a big NO-NO, yet China sees fit to increase its manufacturing economy based on nuclear power – I guess following the Japanese economic model that was so successful in the 60s, 70s and 1980s. Curious how Fukushima put a stop to all that…

  3. While tyrants, the heads of China are smart. Smart in that they are very rapidly getting rid of, by way of massive spending on infrastructure and influence, as much of the Khazarians’ grift-machine fiat as is possible.
    When the Khazarians finally pull the plug on the dollar, the Chinese will be left standing with: 1) A massive manufacturing base, 2) massive amounts of built out infrastructure, and 3) bases and friends the world over.
    While the US tyranny, and the American country they occupy and oppress, will be left destitute and ruined. 1) The US will be left with little by way of a manufacturing base, 2) massive amounts of crumbling infrastructure, and 3) be despised the world over.
    The Khazarians will laugh, for the time being, all the way to one of their grifting banks.
    An American citizen, not US subject.

Leave a Reply