Russia claims it will help China surpass the US in nuclear power production
In a statement aired on state television Wednesday following discussions in Beijing, the head of Russia’s Rosatom state nuclear corporation announced that Russia will assist China in surpassing the United States as the leading producer of nuclear power. The United States boasts the largest network of nuclear reactors globally, featuring an impressive installed capacity of nearly 97 gigawatts (GW).
As of April 2024, China is making significant strides in its nuclear power sector, boasting an operating capacity of 53.2 GW across its reactors, as reported by the US Energy Information Administration. The country is actively working to construct dozens more reactors to enhance its energy capabilities. China is pursuing ambitious plans for the development of atomic energy. “The task has been set to catch up and surpass the United States in installed capacity, which means reaching a capacity of more than 100 gigawatts,” Alexei Likhachev, the Rosatom chief, told Russian state television.
In response to a query from state television regarding Russia’s potential assistance to China in achieving that goal, Likhachev affirmed: “Of course.” We will help. “We are already helping.” According to Likhachev, “Russia has already helped build four nuclear reactors in China and is building four more,” emphasizing that “China needs a large amount of uranium and nuclear fuel for its ambitious plans. As a result, China will need to develop a new generation of closed nuclear fuel cycle reactors based on Russian technology,” he said.
