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China eyes massive hike in atomic energy target: state media
Beijing (AFP) Feb 4, 2009 China plans to nearly double its target for nuclear energy by 2020, state media said Wednesday, a move likely to reaffirm the nation's position as a prime market for the global atomic industry. The new objective is for nuclear power plants to reach a capacity of 70 gigawatts in 11 years, the China Daily reported, enough to power 70 cities the size of San Francisco. The objective, if approved by the State Council or Cabinet, will be up from a previously announced target of 40 gigawatts for 2020. China currently has a combined capacity of nine gigawatts at 11 nuclear reactors. The China Daily quoted the state-controlled newspaper 21st Century Business Herald, which in turn had its information from the National Energy Administration. "We have the ability to raise our nuclear power capacity to at least 60 gigawatts," said Fu Manchang, secretary general of the Chinese Nuclear Society, a group of mainly scientists. "Seventy gigawatts is not unthinkable." However, it will be necessary if China is to meet its objective of raising the share of nuclear power in the overall energy mix to five percent from slightly more than one percent presently, the paper said. China is banking on nuclear power as a cleaner alternative to coal, which currently covers about two thirds of its energy demand. It has also emerged as an attractive alternative to oil, especially after global crude prices reached record highs last year. China's plans have given new hope to the global nuclear industry, represented by firms such as Areva of France and US-based Westinghouse, while offering a market for uranium suppliers such as Anglo-Australian BHP Billiton. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Putin ready to expand German nuclear cooperation
Moscow (AFP) Feb 3, 2009Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said Russia was ready to expand cooperation in the nuclear energy sector with the German engineering giant Siemens, underlining the strength of economic ties between the two countries. |
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