China wants 41 nuclear reactors by 2015

Says a Fukushima-type disaster a remote possibility.

China intends to have 41 operational nuclear reactors generating 42 gigawatts by 2015. This will be equivalent to 10% of the world’s total nuclear power installed capacity.

Zhang Huazhu, chairman of the China Nuclear Energy Association, said China will build nearly 20 nuclear power plants. China now has six power plants and 15 operational nuclear reactors that produce nearly 3.5% of the world's total electricity generated by nuclear power. All of China's six nuclear plants are located along its coast.

Nuclear power currently accounts for 1.85% of China's total electricity generation.

"With their good performances and the carefully chosen locations of the sites, China's nuclear power plants have little chance of repeating what happened in Fukushima," Zhang said.

The State Council, or China's cabinet, said in October that the country will not construct any nuclear projects in inland regions during the 2011-2015 period. China, however, will construct a few projects in coastal areas that have gone through adequate safety processes.

The State Council claims China will apply the world's strictest safety standards to its new nuclear power projects and adhere to third-generation nuclear safety standards in new projects.