The year 2004 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China's nuclear industry and the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Nuclear power is an important component of China's energy strategy, and the nation is increasing the proportion of nuclear energy in its overall supply, said Zhang Huazhu, vice minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority, at a September 1 press conference.

Nuclear power is expected to be a pillar of power generation in the economically developed coastal areas, where demand for electricity is particularly high.

Nuclear-generated electricity on the mainland climbed to 43.8 GWh in 2003, 41.5 GWh of which was connected to the power grid. In Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces, nuclear-generated power accounted for more than 13 percent of the total generated. Zhang said that nuclear power has made significant contribution to local social and economic development in these areas.

The nuclear power generators in use are safe and radiation levels in the surrounding areas are normal, according to Zhang.

Since its establishment, China's nuclear power industry has made significant achievements with comparatively low input, Zhang noted. Since the 1980s, the country has made notable advances in nuclear power technologies, including R&D, engineering design, equipment manufacture, construction and operation. The country is now capable of independently designing and constructing 300 MW and 600 MW pressurized light water reactor (PWR) units and of constructing 1,000 MW PWR units with international cooperation.

The Qinshan plant, which went on line in 1991, is China's first independently designed and constructed nuclear power plant. The Daya Bay facility, completed in 1994, is a good example of international cooperation in constructing such plants.

By July 2004, China had nine nuclear power units in operation, with a total installed capacity of 7,010 MW. The Tianwan plant currently under construction in Jiangsu Province is scheduled to begin operations in 2005, increasing the total installed nuclear power capacity to 9,130 MW.

(China.org.cn September 2, 2004)