Russia bets on inland plants
Updated: 2015-06-03 07:47
By Lyu Chang(China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
Russia's state-owned nuclear giant Rosatom said on Monday that it hopes to help build inland nuclear power plants in China, and one of its subsidiaries is already holding talks to build fast-breeder reactors in the world's largest energy user.
"So far, most of China's new nuclear construction has been at coastal sites, but the country also needs nuclear plants inland to feed its energy demand," said Kirill Komarov, deputy director-general of Rosatom Nuclear Energy State Corp, speaking at a three-day nuclear exhibition called ATOMEXPO in Moscow.
"Russia is one of the few countries with vast experience of building and operating inland nuclear plants, so we hope our expertise will help China bring nuclear to its vast interior," he said.
Russian media reported that last year, the Russian state atomic energy company led a delegation to Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, to assess the feasibility of building two inland nuclear units.
But the company, which is also involved in the Tianwan nuclear site on the coast of eastern Jiangsu province under a partnership with China National Nuclear Corp, has not confirmed the construction sites for inland projects.
Rosatom is building the third and fourth reactors at the Tianwan nuclear complex.
China has been reluctant to start new reactors away from the coast, partly because of the dense population and public safety concerns.
But experts have speculated that several inland plants such as the Taohua River nuclear project in Hunan province, the Xianning nuclear plant in Hubei and the Pengze nuclear plant in Jiangxi, are likely to start construction next year when the ban on inland projects ends.
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, China suspended approval for nuclear plants in order to revise its safety standards. It lifted the ban on new nuclear stations at the end of 2012 and said it would only approve projects proposed for coastal areas during 2015.
Russia is also looking for cooperation in building and operating fast-breeder reactors in China.
"We are currently talking with our Chinese partners about this type of reactor, but the talks are only at the early phase," said Andrey Nekipelov, chief executive officer of Atomenergomash, a subsidiary of Rosatom.
He said that one fast-breeder research reactor using Russian technologies was commissioned in 2013 in China.
Russia's tie-up with China is a reflection of its willingness to shift its focus from the West to the BRICS nations, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which account for 60 percent of the world's new nuclear reactors.
China aims to raise its installed nuclear power capacity to 58 gigawatts by 2020 from 20.3 gigawatts the end of 2014.
Related Stories
Nuclear SOE set for big China IPO 2015-06-02 14:39
China nuclear power firms merge to fuel global clout 2015-06-01 09:57
Nuclear power firm plans biggest mainland IPO in 5 years 2015-05-26 16:11
China's nuclear power capacity to reach 30m kilowatts by year end 2015-05-22 09:06
Inland nuclear projects likely to get fresh impetus 2015-05-19 07:10
China securities authority approves IPO of nuclear giant 2015-05-14 13:21
Today's Top News
Ship carrying 458 people sinks in Yangtze River
Russia-China joint sea drills show high-level coordination
Property prices edge up on good demand
FIFA scandal deepens as Blatter aide linked to payments
Beijing's candidacy for Winter Olympics on stage at Expo Milano
Moscow issues entry ban on European politicians
Spanish cave reveals ancient murder mystery
China nuclear power firms merge to fuel global clout
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Premier Li embarks on Latin America visit |
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |