Full coverage: Xi Visits Czech Republic, Attends Nuclear Security Summit

China’s very first nuclear power reactor at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant was connected to the grid in 1991. In the following two and a half decades, 30 units went into operation, and construction is underway on 24 more. Most are located in eastern and southern coastal areas.
 
Nuclear stations generated about 3 percent of the country’s energy in 2015, but this is still far below the world average of about 11 percent.

The country’s new five-year development scheme has far-reaching goals for the nuclear power sector to cope with China’s environmental concerns as well as soaring energy needs.

The nuclear generating capacity is set to more than double from its current level to reach 58 gigawatts in 2020. This will require six to eight new nuclear reactor units going online every year. A target for 2030 calls for that capacity to increase further to 150 gigawatts.