Nuclear Energy Policy and Development in China

China’s nuclear energy strategy has evolved from a pursuit of technological self-reliance to a central pillar of its low-carbon transition and energy security framework. Government policy, articulated through successive Five-Year Plans and specific White Papers, has prioritised the construction of advanced reactor designs, domestic supply-chain expansion and the establishment of robust regulatory oversight. Since commissioning its first commercial reactors in the 1990s, China has deployed both Generation II and Generation III units, notably the indigenous pressurised water reactors that underpin its largest operational park. More recently, pilot projects of high-temperature gas-cooled and fast-neutron designs signal a shift towards demonstration of next-generation systems. At the same time, national policy has sought to mitigate bottlenecks in uranium supply through enhanced domestic exploration, international partnerships and investment in fuel-recycling technologies. Parallel efforts address waste management, decommissioning planning and public engagement. Internationally, China has leveraged the Belt and Road framework to export nuclear technology, forging bilateral agreements and pursuing standardisation of safety and financing models. The interplay between ambitious capacity targets, cost competitiveness and the drive for carbon neutrality by mid-century continues to shape research and investment choices, offering practical lessons for large-scale deployment in emerging economies and for integration with variable renewable energy sources.

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Nuclear Energy Policy and Development in China publication trend

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Technical terms

Carbon neutrality: A state in which net greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to zero through a balance of emissions and removals.

Fuel cycle: The series of processes involved in the production, utilisation and management of nuclear fuel, from mining through disposal or recycling.

Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE): The average per-unit cost of generating electricity over the lifetime of an installation, accounting for capital, operation and fuel expenses.

Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR): A common type of light-water reactor in which water under high pressure acts as both coolant and moderator.

Uranium resource constraint: The limitation of available uranium reserves and production capacity that may restrict nuclear fuel supply.

References

1. The Prospective of Nuclear Power in China. Sustainability (2018).
2. The Impact of Uranium Resource Constraints on China’s Nuclear Power Development. Energies (2025).
3. Atomic Belt and Road: China’s international nuclear market entry. RUDN Journal of Economics (2022).
4. Potential Impacts of Fukushima Nuclear Leakage on China’s Carbon Neutrality—an Investigation on Nuclear Power Avoidance and Regional Heterogeneity. Frontiers in Environmental Science (2021).