China Is Ready to Build Nuclear Plants Along the Silk Road

China National Nuclear Corporation general manager Qian Zhimin yesterday outlined the potential for nuclear energy growth through the implementation of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Those initiatives will "fuel" China's nuclear industry, he explained. He said that the export of every nuclear power plant involves more than 200 companies, creating about 150,000 jobs, and over 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) for equipment manufacturing, uranium mining, reactor fuel production, maintenance, etc.

"There are over 60 countries alongside" the Belt and Road, he said, "and about 40 of them have their plan to develop the nuclear power industry. According to our calculation, if we can take 20 percent of the market share, China can export 30 nuclear power units..." He mentioned China's recent nuclear deals with Argentina and the U.K. as examples of China's move into the international nuclear power plant market.

Although Qian's emphasis is on what this expansion of new nuclear plants can do for China's nuclear industry, it is a first picture of what the Chinese expect the Belt and Road initiative will mean for being able to support the 40 countries that are planning new nuclear projects.