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Is China building new nuclear power plants?

Author

Emily Cortez

Published Mar 11, 2026

Is China building new nuclear power plants?

China is gearing up to activate the world's first 'clean' commercial nuclear reactor. Plans include building up to 30 reactors in partnered nations. Chinese government scientists have unveiled plans for a first-of-its-kind, experimental nuclear reactor that does not need water for cooling.

Also, is China building nuclear power plants?

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said the project will be the world's first land-based commercial SMR. The multi-purpose 125 MWe pressurised water reactor (PWR) - also referred to as the Linglong One - is designed for electricity production, heating, steam production or seawater desalination.

Additionally, how often does China build a new nuclear power plant? During their 13th Five-Year Plan period from 2016 to 2020, China built 20 new nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 23.4 GW, doubling their total capacity to 47 GW. And that is expected to happen again during their next 5-year plan, which has a new target of 70GW of nuclear generation before 2025.

Just so, how many nuclear power plants are being built in China?

Number of under construction nuclear reactors worldwide as of May 2021, by country

CharacteristicNumber of reactors
China14
India6
South Korea4
United Arab Emirates3

Are there any new nuclear power plants being built?

The newest nuclear reactor to enter service, Watts Bar Unit 2 with 1,122 MW net summer electricity generating capacity, began commercial operation in October 2016. Two new nuclear reactors are actively under construction: Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Georgia.

What is the largest nuclear power plant in the world?

Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) takes the current title of being the largest nuclear power plant in the world, boasting a net capacity of 7,965MW. About 220km away from the city's capital, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in the Niigata Prefecture has over seven boiling water reactors (BWR).

How many reactors is China building?

As of June 2021, China has a total nuclear power generation capacity of 49.6 GW from 50 reactors, with additional 17.1 GW under construction.

Is Japan a nuclear power?

After the nuclear disaster that struck Fukushima in 2011, Japan quickly moved to phase out nuclear power. Two years after a tsunami led to three nuclear meltdowns at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plan, Japan had shut down its entire fleet of nuclear power generators.

Who is the world's top producer of nuclear power?

The USA is the world's largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for more than 30% of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity. The country's nuclear reactors produced 843 billion kWh in 2019, about 19% of total electrical output.

Does China have nuclear powered submarines?

China built its first nuclear-powered submarine in 1974. With the world's largest armed forces, China has increasingly worked to advance its naval capabilities. Beijing has at least 59 operational submarines, 12 are nuclear-powered and half of those are SSBNs.

What kind of power plants does China have?

Coal
StationChinese nameTotal capacity (MW)
Ninghai Power Station å®æµ·ç”µåŽ‚4,400
Shidongkou Power Station 石洞å£å‘电厂3,820
Taishan Power Station å°å±±ç”µåŽ‚5,000
Waigaoqiao Power Station 外高桥电厂5,000

Why are there no new nuclear power plants?

There are three key reasons for nuclear's decline since the '70s. Environmental groups, fearful of nuclear meltdowns and weapon proliferation, began lobbying governments to stop building new power plants. The nuclear cleanup is expected to take 81 years to fully complete. Chernobyl put a moratorium on nuclear power.

What country has most nuclear power plants?

The United States has the most operational nuclear reactors on the planet – 96. Together they have a capacity of 97,565 MW, and last year nuclear energy made up about 20% of the country's electricity generation. France is home to 58 nuclear reactors, which produce about 75% of the country's electricity.

Is the US building nuclear power plants?

Two nuclear reactors are now under construction in the U.S., at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. They are billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.

Where does China get uranium from?

Increasingly, uranium is imported from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Canada, Namibia, Niger and Australia.

Does Australia have nuclear power?

Australia has never had a nuclear power station. Australia hosts 33% of the world's uranium deposits and is the world's third largest producer of uranium after Kazakhstan and Canada. Australia's extensive low-cost coal and natural gas reserves have historically been used as strong arguments for avoiding nuclear power.

Does Russia have nuclear power?

In 2020, nuclear power accounted for 20% of energy production in Russia. The floating NPP replaces the old Bilibinsk NPP, the first reactor of which was decommissioned in 2019. Three more are to follow between now and 2025.

Is France building nuclear power plants?

Construction of the first French EPR started at the Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant in 2007. The completion date was set for 2012, but the reactor suffered delays and cost overruns. As of 2019, completion was scheduled for late 2022, ten years behind schedule.

Will we run out of uranium?

Uranium abundance: At the current rate of uranium consumption with conventional reactors, the world supply of viable uranium, which is the most common nuclear fuel, will last for 80 years. Scaling consumption up to 15 TW, the viable uranium supply will last for less than 5 years.

What nuclear plants are closing in 2021?

In total, it appears that 30 plants (nuclear, coal, petroleum, and others) will be retired in 2021. Five nuclear reactors are included in the closure list—Indian Point-3, Byron (two units at the plant), and Dresden (two units at the plant).

Who owns Columbia Generating?

Columbia produces 1,107 megawatts net of electricity, which is about 10 percent of the electricity generated in Washington state.

Columbia Generating Station.

Columbia Nuclear Generating Station
Construction cost$6.392 billion (2007 USD) ($7.76 billion in 2019 dollars)
Owner(s)Energy Northwest
Operator(s)Energy Northwest

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Is China building new nuclear power plants?