How Is China Revolutionizing Nuclear Energy with Cooperation and Innovation?

CGTN Europe

CGTN Europe spoke to François Morin, World Nuclear Association China Director.

Transcript

00:00On nuclear energy, they agreed to what they called pragmatic cooperation in the peaceful use of it.

00:06The two countries say they plan to work together on new technology, including small modular reactors.

00:12One of the companies to send its CEO on the China trip was EDF.

00:16Last year, the French energy giant signed an agreement with the China National Nuclear Corporation to build advanced nuclear facilities.

00:23They agreed to work to assist both countries in achieving their carbon neutrality goals.

00:30China's nuclear energy sector has been growing quickly.

00:34China now has 58 nuclear power plants with a total capacity of more than 61 megawatts.

00:41And there are many more to come.

00:42Another 44 reactor units are now under construction, two and a half times more than any other country.

00:49By 2035, Beijing plans to build enough new plants to generate 200 gigawatts,

00:55generating enough energy to power a dozen cities the size of Beijing

00:59and putting it on course to overtake the United States by the year 2030.

01:04François Morin is the China director for the World Nuclear Association,

01:09an international organization that promotes the nuclear power industry.

01:12He says the two countries have a long history of nuclear cooperation.

01:17The French were transferring their nuclear technology, nuclear reactors technology in 1987, 1994, 2000, all these years.

01:30And they transferred the construction of nuclear plants starting from 2% Chinese share, Chinese part of the construction.

01:44Even the concrete at that time had to be imported from abroad.

01:50And now the Chinese content of a nuclear power plant in China is close to 95%.

01:57So, you see, things have been reversed.

02:01And now the French are coming to China to learn how to build and operate in as fast as possible new nuclear plants.

02:12It is very interesting because it shows that the experience, the know-how, the knowledge on all aspects,

02:23academic, intellectual, supply chain aspects, all that has been, in fact, kept alive thanks to the Chinese program.

02:32And now the French are coming back here in China to get some return, we could say, of their intellectual investment,

02:43which dates back to 30 years ago.

02:46You talk there about how China makes 95% of what they need to operate their nuclear industry.

02:55And this week, shares in China's only uranium miner tripled in value when they made their debut on the market.

03:01What does China's ability to produce its own uranium mean for their nuclear industry?

03:08Uranium is one of the main bottlenecks, somehow, of the nuclear fleet around the world.

03:18Not today, but in the projected forecast future by 2050 and beyond.

03:25The renowned resources can definitely guarantee the supply for all the nuclear fleet across the world

03:37till, I mean, maybe for 100 years or more.

03:40However, if the so-called fleet is to triple or quadruple or quintuple, multiply five to six folds in China,

03:51then, of course, the need for uranium will be increased.

03:58China has not enough uranium inside China domestically.

04:01So, China, you must find uranium outside China.

04:07It's what it's doing in Namibia, in Niger, in Kazakhstan mainly.

04:13And it's buying also from Canada, from Australia.

04:17So, China has quite well-balanced access to uranium.

04:22So, veio of uranium?

04:36China has quite well-balanced access to uranium, since the przew vaccine is produced.

04:39India has quite well-balanced access to uranium.

04:41To see the use of the microwave does not necessary to these metals.

04:44Yaz Read to the renewable potassium and local potassium in Kenya.

04:46questo锻 there was no oxygen in Africa for astronomers.

04:47If you can, I like the power of uranium.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended