China's nuclear energy in light of the disaster in Japan

Abstract

A specialist on China's energy industries surveys China's ambitious program for the expansion of nuclear energy, and how it may be reassessed in light of the disaster (earthquake and tsunami) that destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan in March 2011, spreading hazardous levels of radiation and forcing mass evacuations in that country. The author examines the rationale underlying the Chinese government's decision to rapidly increase China's nuclear power generation capacity, reviews the new plant construction targets in place immediately preceding the disaster in Japan, and analyzes Beijing's responses to it. Among the questions addressed are what alternatives China has for increasing "clean" power generation and whether nuclear power generation in that country poses greater risks overall than other means of power generation.