China drafts nuclear law to back overseas push and target leading role globally
Beijing to promote export of equipment, fuel and services as it aims to boost capacity and regain momentum following slowdown in its nuclear sector
China will provide more support for its nuclear firms to go overseas and strengthen their position on the international market, according to new draft legislation submitted to the industry for consultation on Friday.
“The state will encourage and support the positive and orderly participation of its enterprises in the international market” and promote the export of nuclear equipment, fuel and services, the draft Atomic Energy Law says.
China aims to bring its total installed nuclear capacity to 58 gigawatts by the end of 2020, up from 37GW at the end of June this year, but it also has ambitions to dominate the global market and has created a unified third-generation reactor brand known as the Hualong One to sell overseas.
China has already signed a series of preliminary agreements with countries including Brazil, Argentina, Uganda and Cambodia and it is undergoing a technical approval process for the Hualong One in Britain.
The government also published new guidelines last month aimed at promoting its own technical standards in foreign markets and playing a “leading role” in the global nuclear technology standardisation process.