China plans to build a fleet of floating nuclear reactors to provide energy for remote islands and oil rigs in the South China Seas by 2020, Chinese experts said after the country recently announced the setting up of a maritime nuclear power company in Shanghai.
The company responsible to the nuclear fleet is jointly established by five companies including the China National Nuclear Power (CNNP) and Shanghai Electric Power, said the CNNP in a statement.
The floating nuclear utilities can also be used to supply emergency relief to the areas devastated by tsunamis and other natural disasters.
The vessels are reported to house a sea-bound 100-MW ACP100 miniature reactor each provided by the CNNP, which can generate roughly a quarter of what a typical civilian nuclear power plant can produce.
The plants can also power the energy requirements of the island and reefs in the South China Sea, said a research fellow at the National Institute for the South China Sea.
"The plants will provide environment protection, weather observation, navigation and oil and gas development," he said, adding that nuclear power is just one option for the islands and reefs among wind and solar energy.
China will develop floating nuclear power stations during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), and has assembled experts to study how this would be accomplished.
Nuclear is seen as a good substitute for traditional fossil-fired to generate electricity for the energy-thirsty country, which pledges to combat increasing environmental issues. Now, the country has 36 nuclear power plants in operation, with another 21 under construction.
(Writing by Alex Guo Editing by Harry Huo)
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