The power shortages in about two-thirds of China's provinces last year led the government to decide to more than double nuclear power generation by the end of 2020. To meet that goal, it will establish a new nuclear power technology enterprise.

A shift from coal-fired plants to nuclear power will also help reduce air pollution in China, the world's second-largest power consumer.

The Preparatory Office of the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) opened in September under the direct authority of the State Nuclear Power Self-reliance Leading Committee.

Nuclear power is considered integral to sustaining China's economic growth in the coming decades.

Chen Zhaobo, the project chief appointed by the State Council, said that the preparatory office will set up the corporation, organize tenders, conduct technology transfers and negotiate contracts for nuclear power projects.

"We are busy preparing for two new reactors, composed of four units, in Guangdong and Zhejiang," Chen told China Daily.

The initial goal of the first two projects is to shore up China's ability to independently design, build and operate third-generation pressurized water reactors.

"Those will become part of our own technology to develop our nuclear power blueprint," said Chen.

Still, he said, China plans to continue working with its partners to promote nuclear power.

China currently has nine operating reactors with a combined capacity of 6,450 megawatts. Together, they account for 1.4 per cent of the country's total power supply.

However, even with the new focus on reactor construction, nuclear power will only account for 4 percent of China's electricity output by 2020, analysts estimate. The average among countries with nuclear power plants is 17 percent.

The government will expand international nuclear safety cooperation and strengthen supervision to guarantee safe operation of its nuclear installations.

State Environmental Protection Administration Minister Xie Zhenhua announced in October, at the anniversary of the founding of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), that no major incidents had taken places at China's nuclear installations in the 20 years since the NNSA's founding.

He added that radioactive elements in China's atmosphere, soil and surface and ground water are well within safety standards.

China became a signatory to the International Convention on Nuclear Safety in September 1994. The convention requires participating states operating land-based nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety by setting international benchmarks.

China's aggregate energy consumption now ranks second in the world, accounting for 11 percent of the world total, according to Wu Guihui, vice director of the Energy Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission.

(China Daily, China.org.cn December 14, 2004)