China’s nuclear industry has in recent years ventured overseas for new opportunities but it is now facing challenges at home gaining public acceptance of its $150bn expansion plans.
Fears of a nuclear power backlash, stoked by recent demonstrations against other large industrial projects, have rattled regulators as well as nuclear operators China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) and China General Nuclear Power Corp (CGN).
Nuclear power is central to Beijing’s efforts to reduce unpopular smog while keeping the manufacturing economy humming in its populous eastern cities. China plans to expand its nuclear generating capacity to 58GW by 2020, with another 30GW under construction by that time.