CHINA needs a budget of 450 billion yuan (US$60.36 billion) in the 13 years to 2020 for nuclear plants as the nation seeks alternatives to coal-generated electricity, according to a new industry plan.
The development blueprint also calls for more self-sufficiency in nuclear-reactor design, equipment manufacturing and project construction and operations by introducing, absorbing and fine-tuning foreign technology.
The plan, approved by the State Council, was released yesterday by the National Development and Reform Commission, China''s top industry planner, on its Website.
It iterated its earlier stated goal of having 40,000 megawatts of nuclear power in operation by 2020, or four percent of China''s total power-generating capacity, and having 18,000MW under construction by that time.
At present, nuclear power accounts for less than two percent of the total generating capacity of China.
The NDRC said domestic equipment manufacturers should achieve annual capacity for nuclear power equipment of no less than 2,000MW in the five years through 2010, and have 4,000MW in capacity from 2010 onward.
The domestic industry will keep cooperating high-tech foreign partners with the aim of localizing key technology in the future, the NDRC report said.
The government has selected 13 coastal sites for new nuclear plants which could house a combined capacity of more than 50,000MW.
New plants to meet the 2020 state target will be chosen from these sites, the NDRC said, adding that the government is considering building one plant each in Shandong and Fujian provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region which now have no nuclear plants.
In addition to coastal regions, China is also undertaking preparation work for building nuclear plants in inland provinces including Hubei, Jiangxi and Sichuan, it said.
The report added that China will also explore domestic uranium resources on a "reasonable basis" and "actively" look for overseas resources to ensure supply of the basic fuel used in nuclear reactors.
It also pledged to step up efforts in radioactive waste treatment.