Nation needs eight new nuclear power units annually, official says

China should start the construction of eight million-kilowatt nuclear power units annually by 2030 to ensure the steady development of the nation's nuclear industry and technology, said Liu Wei, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress and general manager of China Nuclear Power Engineering Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corp, the State-owned nuclear power company.

China is expected to see its total power consumption in 2030 reach 8.5 trillion to 10.5 trillion kilowatts, with clean energy accounting for more than 45 percent, said Liu.

If nuclear power is to account for the global average of 10 percent of total electric energy production, China needs to start construction of eight million-kilowatt nuclear power units annually by 2030, he said.