Huge potential for nuclear power in China

Current capacity only a seventh that of countries with nuclear power.

China's nuclear power industry is ramping up production of electricity now that the government has lifted a moratorium on new nuclear power plants.

The government says China’s nuclear power generating capacity accounts for only 1.8% of all electricity generation, much lower than the average figure of 14% for all countries with nuclear power.

"The potential of the Chinese nuclear industry is huge," said Sun Qin, chairman of China National Nuclear Corporation, a state-owned energy company that runs more than 40% of China's nuclear power plants.

Coal accounts for 70% of China’s total energy production.

The State Council last October approved two programs, the National Plan for Nuclear Power Security (2011-20) and the Nuclear Power Development Plan (2011-20), which laid the foundations for nuclear power development.

According to these programs, China will have 40 million kilowatts of installed nuclear capacity by 2015. The country will develop the nuclear industry at a reasonable pace.