China Wants Nuclear Reactors, and Lots of Them

Taken from: Business Week

Date Published: February 21, 2013

Construction of a reactor at the Chanjiang Nuclear Power
Plant, in September 2012.

Summary: After the nuclear meltdown that occurred in Japan on March of 2011, Japan has announced they will take down their nuclear power plants and leave them off. Germany has also announced they are decommissioning their nuclear power plants. To follow Switzerland and Italy have rejected proposals to build more reactors. But on the other hand China has not ceased to build their nuclear power plants. Last November the government approved four more projects. This adds up to 29 nuclear power plants. More than any country in the world. China will now own 40% of the world's nuclear power plants. China has already adopted a new type of technology, which increases the power of the reactor, which can now produce 1400 megawatts from 1000 megawatts. This new reactor also has an 8 million pound water tank on top of the plant, in the case of a power outage. This will create a three day window of time, which is the estimated time to prevent a meltdown. The nuclear operator does not have to do anything, the machine will do it automatically. In the case of a power outage the power plant will be cooled by the water which is run by gravity. China is testing all kinds of new technologies to create the most efficient and highest energy producing power plant, while still looking at safety. They have begun testing with the radioactive chemical thorium, which is said to be safer than uranium as nuclear fuel. 

“China is now one of the most important countries, if not the most important country, in the global nuclear industry,” 

Opinion: I think that it is great that China is moving forward to provide more energy for the world and for itself. I think nuclear power plants are a good source of energy, but building too many is bad. It poses a safety risk and it is bad for the environment. I think building 29, is going over the top. As long as they can keep the public safe and create a new technology that has less of an impact on the environment, it is a good step forward. I am glad that China is test new ways and new innovations to create a safe and reliable source of power for themselves and the rest of the world to use.