Atomic power holds key to energy security

Facing growing energy demand, ever harsher conditions pertaining to domestic resources and protecting the environment, as well as the challenges of global climate change, including the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, China has to solve a series of basic problems in its energy development.

These challenges include: Striking an energy supply-demand balance; overcoming the environmental and biological problems caused by China's long-standing dependence on coal; easing logistics problems brought about by the transport of coal from its coal-rich western and northern regions to coal-scarce eastern and southern parts, and the transfer of electricity from west to east; and reducing dependence on foreign energy supplies to ensure energy security.

The large-scale development of nuclear energy will play a key role in freeing up China's domestic resources, guaranteeing energy security, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring that a green, low-carbon development model is adopted.