China.org.cn | September 25, 2024
Shou Xiaoli:
Due to time constraints, last question please.
Beijing Youth Daily:
Regarding non-fossil energy, I'd like to specifically ask about nuclear power. In recent years, China has achieved remarkable growth in terms of both scale and speed in developing nuclear power and has established a complete industrial chain for nuclear power technology. How can China's nuclear power industry ensure safer, greener, more efficient as well as diversified development in the future? Thank you.
Zhang Jianhua:
Thank you for your question and for your interest in our nuclear power industry. Nuclear power may be a niche product, but it is indeed a clean, low-carbon and efficient high-quality energy source, serving as an important base-load power source in the power system. Developing nuclear power is of great significance for ensuring energy security, promoting a green and low-carbon energy transformation, and helping achieve the goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. China's nuclear power industry actually started in the 1980s. After 40 years of exploration and practice, we have established a complete industrial system and are one of the few countries in the world with a complete nuclear power industrial system. The past decade of the new era has especially been the fastest period of development for our country's nuclear power industry, achieving historic accomplishments. We have accumulated rich experience and engineering capabilities in nuclear power technology research and development, engineering design, equipment manufacturing, construction, and operation.
You may have noticed that last week, the State Council approved five new nuclear power projects, totaling 11 units. Currently, China has approved a total of 102 nuclear power units in operation and under construction in the mainland, with a total installed capacity of 113.13 million kilowatts. This ranks first in the world. Currently, 56 units are in operation with an installed capacity of 58.08 million kilowatts. The 46 approved units, including those currently under construction, have an installed capacity of 55.05 million kilowatts. Therefore, combining both operational and under-construction units, China ranks first globally.
In recent years, our country's operational nuclear power units have maintained high levels of power generation, fully leveraging their role as baseload power sources. Although nuclear power accounts for less than 2% of the country's total installed capacity, it generates nearly 5% of the total electricity output. In particular, nuclear power has become an important supporting and primary power source in eastern coastal regions. In five provinces—Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan—nuclear power accounts for more than 20% of the total electricity generated, playing a vital role in ensuring power supply.
The 20th National Congress of the CPC also made strategic plans for the active, safe and orderly development of nuclear power, charting the course for nuclear power development in the new era. In the future, we will follow the central government's deployment, balancing development and safety. We will adhere to the strictest standards for planning and approval, the highest quality for project construction, the most rigorous requirements for operation and management as well as the strictest measures for supervision and regulation to ensure steady and orderly construction progress. We will actively promote the comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy in heating, steam supply and seawater desalination, steadily increase the proportion of nuclear power in energy and electricity consumption as well as support the energy revolution and green and low-carbon development. At the same time, we are actively participating in global nuclear power construction, sharing China's experience and contributing to the global effort to combat climate change. Thank you.
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you, Mr. Zhang Jianhua. Thank you to all the presenters and to all the journalists for participating. That's all for today's press conference. Goodbye!
Translated and edited by Liu Jianing, Wang Qian, Xu Kailin, Ma Yujia, Li Huiru, Mi Xingang, Huang Shan, Yan Xiaoqing, Yang Chuanli, Liu Sitong, Liu Caiyi, Yuan Fang, Yan Bin, Wang Wei, Wang Ziteng, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Rochelle Beiersdorfer. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.