Sichuan opens up nuclear power sector

Sichuan province has become the first in China to open its nuclear power sector to private investment, according to an official notice published on Monday.

The provincial government is encouraging what it called qualified enterprises to invest in future nuclear power projects, research, the manufacturing of nuclear power equipment, and its nuclear-power service industry.

Experts said the Sichuan green light was a strong message that China is now willing to diversify its funding sources to support what is an ambitious nuclear power program, especially on research and development, which slowed in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power station disaster in Japan.