China plans to build 30 overseas nuclear plants by 2030

BEIJING: China aims to build 30 nuclear power units in countries involved with its Silk Road Initiative by 2030 as it looks to cash in its new 1000 mw nuclear reactor technology being built in Pakistan.

The China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) has reached bilateral agreements on nuclear energy cooperation with countries including Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Britain, France and Jordan, its President Sun Qin said today.

China is building two 1000 mg nuclear power plants in Pakistan's port city of Karachi at a cost of USD 6.5 billion.

More than 70 countries are now planning or are already developing their own nuclear power projects, and it is estimated 130 more nuclear power units will have been built by 2020, Sun was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.

The CNNC is willing to cooperate with countries throughout the whole nuclear power industry chain.

It will actively promote localisation of the technology and strive to establish an integrated industrial system for countries involved with the Belt and Road Initiative, the official name for the Silk Road Initiative Sun said.

Currently China has 30 nuclear power generating units with a capacity of 28 million gw and another 24 units are under construction, all of which are on land.