‘Nuclear tourism’ begins in China: Power plants open to public now - Interesting Engineering
‘Nuclear tourism’ begins in China: Power plants open to public now
‘Nuclear tourism’ begins in China as the country plans 30 new power reactors
Such visits are expected to make people aware of nuclear energy and issues like radiation and safety controls.
A representational image of a nuclear power plant.
In a rare move, China has allowed the public to visit nine nuclear plants across the country. The step aims to garner support for nuclear power amid the increasing demand for clean energy.
An online booking system was recently introduced by China General Nuclear Power Corp (CGN) to help tourists easily access nuclear tourism program.
On August 7, the launch event was held at a nuclear plant in Fujian province. Tourists were allowed to visit the Ningde nuclear power plant’s four CPR-1000 reactors along with the nearby situated white tea gardens.
Visit aims to strengthen public support in nuclear energy sector
Tourists were also offered an option to visit the Fangchenggang nuclear power plant, which is western China’s first nuclear power project and is located within the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The plant, which is just 50km from the border of Vietnam, sits near famous tourist islands home to the Jing ethnic minority.
The Chinese nuclear power agency hopes that the program will not only boost local tourism but it will also strengthen public support in the nuclear energy sector at a time when China aims to meet its target of zeroing out carbon emissions by 2060.
Such visits are expected to make people aware of nuclear energy and how the power plants tackle issues like radiation and safety controls, according to CGN.
China building additional 30 nuclear reactors
Public support for China appears to be necessary as the country is currently building an additional 30 nuclear reactors.
In the past 10 years, more than 34 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity were added in China, bringing the country’s number of operating nuclear reactors to 55 with a total net capacity of 53.2 GW as of April 2024, according to US Energy Information Administration.
The United States has the largest number of nuclear power stations, with 94 reactors, but it took the country nearly 40 years to add the same nuclear power capacity as China added in 10 years.
Visit to lead to high-quality development of China’s nuclear power industry
“This is not only a public science popularization activity, but also an important exploration in the field of nuclear tourism,” Bloomberg quoted CGN spokesperson Guo Xingang as saying during the event.
“This will not only help enhance the public’s understanding and trust in nuclear power, but also contribute to the high-quality development of my country’s nuclear power industry.”
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China made rapid growth in nuclear power, but till 2022, nuclear power made up only about 5% of the country’s cumulative power generation. While nuclear power accounts for nearly 18% of electricity generation in the U.S.
China implemented a long-term strategy in 2011 for nuclear power development to meet its electricity demand and to address environmental concerns.
Given growing electricity demand over the last decade, China’s utilities have increased development of all types of electricity generation, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
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ABOUT THE EDITOR
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.
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Nuclear energy provides almost 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply. Advocates have called for an expanded role for nuclear as an emissions-free fuel source. But the economics of building new reactors are daunting. In addition, lingering safety concerns are an institutionalized part of the calculation of nuclear regulation, and highly radioactive nuclear waste remains a can that public officials have been inclined to kick down the road. The Energy Information Administration projects a sharp decline in nuclear power generation over the next decade, as new nuclear plants — two are planned — are more than offset by anticipated retirements of several operating reactors.