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Among developing countries,听nuclear power is an听important option for domestic energy strategy,听China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation's chairman听said in Ankara on Monday.
During Chairman听WANG听Binghua's听opening听speech at the seventh听International Energy Congress听and Fair, he said听nuclear power plays听an increasingly important role in the world's energy mix, as more advanced and safer third-generation nuclear power technology is becoming the mainstream choice of global nuclear new-build programs.
"Many developing countries have placed nuclear power as an important option for their domestic energy strategy. They actively promote nuclear energy or are making preparations to develop nuclear energy. It is foreseeable that as a mature, safe, clean, economic and the only large-scale substitutable energy source,听nuclear energy will play an important role in future world energy mix," he said.
According to the forecast of the International Energy Agency, world energy demand will increase by 37 percent听in 2040.
The International Atomic Energy Agency听estimates that by 2030, the lowest growth percentage of nuclear power will be 17 percent听and the highest could reach as much as听94 percent.听
Wang said,听however, after the Fukushima accident听with growing public concern听and engineering practices of more advanced and safer听power听technology, new听projects will predominantly be third听generation nuclear power plants.听
"Countries that are preparing nuclear power are looking at third generation nuclear power听technology with engineering validation, and听third generation nuclear power technology is expected to become the mainstream nuclear power technology choice with its unique advantages," he added.
The first third generation advanced reactors have been operating in Japan since 1996, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Third generation reactors have听a simpler and more rugged design, higher availability and longer operating life-typically 60 years. They further offer the听reduced possibility of core melt accidents, and are resistant听to serious damage that would allow radiological release from an aircraft impact, or听higher burn-up to use fuel more fully and efficiently and reduce the amount of waste,听according to the World Nuclear Association.
"China听has pursued an energy policy of developing nuclear power," Wang said.听Currently, there are 20 operating units with a total installed capacity of 18 gigawatts听and 28 units under construction with a total planned capacity of 30 gigawatts听on mainland听China.
According to a mid-to-long term development plan for听China's nuclear power, the installed capacity of operating units will be 58 gigawatts with the听units to generate听30 gigawatts planned to be听under construction by 2020.听
By Huseyin Erdogan
Anadolu Agency
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