* Mainland China has eleven nuclear power reactors in commercial operation, six under construction, and several more about to start construction. * Additional reactors are planned, including some of the world's most advanced, to give a sixfold increase in nuclear capacity to at least 50 GWe by 2020 and then a further three to fourfold increase to 120-160 GWe by 2030. * The country aims to become self-sufficient in reactor design and construction, as well as other aspects of the fuel cycle. * Electricity demand is growing very rapidly. * Mainland China is starting to rely heavily on imported uranium to fuel its nuclear power program.
RE:Look at China
by galilio on Jul 21, 2008 10:37 AM Permalink
Brazil has three nuclear plants.it produces uranium yellow cake ( uranium ore which has presence of 0.1 to 0.2% in most countries except in canada and australia where content of uranium is about 20%- so 1000 mts ore to produce 10 mts yellow cake).Brazil send yellow cake to canada for processing to uranium hexaflouride in gasous form which has 99.7% of isotope U238 and just 0.3% isotope U235.only isotope U235 is required for nuclear reactor. hence from canada, this gas is sent to germany for enrichement to get 5% of U235 isotope which are put in tablet form capped in fuel rods made of zirconium tubes before sent back to brazil for used in nuclear reactor.To make atomic bomb 90% min U235 isotope is required.so processing, reprocessing,conversion and enrichments and fuel rod assembly are important technology oriented industries closely guarded by USA,UK,RUSSIA, FRANCE,GERMANY.After used in nuclear reactor, this spent waste fuel will be sent for reprocessing to exract unused left over isotope of U235 in other countries mainly FRANCE,U K and sent back to brazil. so india will depend upon america and its allies permanently. heavy investment,difficulty of fuel supply,its prices,frequency of breakdown,high cost of production,accidents in nuclear reactors and waste fuel dumping ect will make this power sector white elephant.IAEA predicts nuclear power will come down to 13% by 2030 from present 16% in world production.do we need white elephant?
