Nuclear reboot gains pace

The restarting of China's nuclear power sector has made substantial progress as construction of two reactors — in Fuqing, in Fujian province, and Yangjiang, in Guangdong province — resumed over the weekend.

The reactors, which belong to China National Nuclear Corp and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co, were approved for construction to commence in the second half of 2011 but were halted after the Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan.

Another reactor in Rongcheng, in Shandongprovince, that had also received approval, may also resume construction within this year.

In late October, the State Council approved a development plan and a security plan for the country's nuclear power sector by 2020, calling for the reactor construction of the approved projects to be restarted first.

Analysts say a key stage of the reinstatement depends on the approval of new reactors. The first of these to be decided will be reactor number three in Tianwan, Jiangsu province, which was originally scheduled for construction starting in Dec 2012.

weitian@chinadaily.com.cn