Title: The prospects for nuclear energy in the East Asian region: focusing on China

Authors: Zhidong Li

Addresses: Department of Management and Information Systems Science, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka-Machi, Nagaoka, 940-2188, Japan

Abstract: Of all countries in the East Asian region, China is the most important in terms of its prospects for nuclear energy. This study provides a comprehensive and holistic perspective for nuclear power development in China up to the year 2050 with reference to recent literature on the related major topics, such as macroeconomic development, energy balances and environmental policy. While China has many disadvantages in terms of nuclear power development, such as weak competitiveness and back-end disposal of radioactive waste, its nuclear power capacity is very likely to increase from 6.7 GWe in 2005 to over 31 GWe in 2020, over 50 GWe in 2030 and over 120 GWe in 2050 and beyond.

Keywords: China; economic growth; nuclear energy; environment; nuclear power; pressurised water reactors; PWR; macroeconomic development; energy balance; environmental policy; nuclear waste; waste disposal; radioactive waste.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2008.019866

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2008 Vol.30 No.1/2/3/4, pp.264 - 288

Published online: 12 Aug 2008 *

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