China's reactor construction 'faster than planned'
10 March 2008
[Reuters, 8 March] "Construction of nuclear power plants has been progressing faster than planned" in China, Zhang Guobao, a vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission told the Xinhua news agency. He said that he now expects installed nuclear power capacity to reach 60 GW by 2020, up from the earlier target of 40 GW by then. Guobao said, "It is necessary to increase the share of nuclear power" and renewable energy sources. China currently has eleven nuclear power reactors in operation, six under construction and several more about to start construction. Nuclear energy currently provides less than 2% of China's total electricity. Plans call for China's nuclear generating capacity to reach 120-160 GWe by 2030.