Export of indigenous technologies and 10% share in domestic energy mix are future goals

Last year's big-ticket developments in China's nuclear power industry signify two key themes: the country's inexorable shift towards clean energy, in line with its commitment to be a responsible, climate-conscious economic giant, and its determination to be a leading global nuclear player in the decades to come.

As many as six nuclear reactors went online in 2015. The authorities concerned gave permits for the construction of eight more domestic reactors.

As for exports of nuclear technology, in November the country signed a $6-billion deal with Argentina to build a nuclear plant, the South American country's fourth. In United Kingdom, three nuclear power plants are likely to be built with possible Chinese nuclear technologies.

Last week China signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to develop home-grown fourth-generation nuclear technology in the Middle East country.

But what helps China to stand out from the nuclear crowd is its stress on innovation, safety and popularization of its technologies, experts said.

Nuclear power is firmly etched into China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20). According to the National Energy Administration, China's 28 nuclear reactors in operation have an installed capacity of about 25.5 gigawatts. The nuclear plants now under construction and those approved for construction would collectively generate an additional 30 gW in future.

Xu Yuming, deputy director of the China Nuclear Energy Association, said the current program would see the country emerging as the largest market for nuclear power plants. But, the priority is safe development of nuclear power and increase in the percentage of homegrown nuclear technology in the global market.

"Speed (of executing nuclear power projects) is not the goal. We should put safety above everything, and improve our ability to innovate and develop our own technologies for use domestically, while at the same time paving the way for their export, as per the new five-year plan," Xu said.

The safety-first principle became paramount after China suspended approvals for new reactors in 2011 in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan, and went in for a review of safety standards at existing nuclear facilities.

In March last year, the government okayed construction of units 5 and 6 of Hongyan River nuclear power plant in northeastern Liaoning province, the first such project to receive approvals in four years.

From then, China started to ramp up electricity generation at its nuclear power plants, which gained currency as clean, abundant sources of energy with potential to fuel a high-growth economy.

Starting from May 2015, the government issued construction permits to units 5 and 6 of Fuqing nuclear power plant in southeastern Fujian province, units 3 and 4 of Fangchenggang nuclear project in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and units 5 and 6 of Tianwan nuclear power plant in eastern Jiangsu province.

Experts said China's pledge to the international community that it will reduce carbon emissions and generate 20 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030, will push the country to use more nuclear power in the coming decades.

Xu said China, the world's largest energy consumer, is likely to add five or six nuclear reactors every year from 2016 to 2030, according to estimates in the draft 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

"By then, nuclear power will account for 8 to 10 percent of the total energy mix," he said. Its current share is about 2 percent.