Full Title: United States-China Cooperation on Nuclear Power: An Opportunity for Fostering Sustainable Energy Security
Author(s): Atlantic Council
Publisher(s): Atlantic Council
Publication Date: March 1, 2009
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Description (excerpt):
An important step in this dialogue process is the development of a common understanding of each country’s energy outlook and energy-related challenges, and each country’s national and foreign policies related to energy. Over the past several years, the Council and EETC have invited key organizations, experts from industry and government, and representatives from relevant United States (U.S.) and Chinese government agencies to become directly involved in several meetings designed to identify concrete recommendations for increasing official governmental and industry cooperation. This Dialogue produced an overview of the Chinese nuclear power program and how it fits into China’s overall energy development program. This latest conference discussed issues such as regulations, financing, and construction and life-cycle costs. The Chinese participants were frank in their ideas concerning how to build on the cooperative efforts already underway. Likewise, the U.S. speakers discussed ongoing cooperative programs at the government level, and provided an update on the Westinghouse and Shaw AP 1000 Consortium commercial nuclear power plant construction program underway in China. Particularly noteworthy is the extent to which Westinghouse technology has been transferred to China. The report provides a particularly useful overview of dynamic and interdependent relationships that have already been formed between the U.S. and Chinese civilian nuclear program. In addition the report provides a helpful discussion of the complexity of the institutions that are directing China’s commercial nuclear industry. Despite a number of challenges which are discussed in the report, between 2005 and 2030, China will add at least 45 GWe of nuclear capacity and over the next 20 years, China’s nuclear program is expected to become the second largest in the world.