As the world bets again on nuclear energy with ambitious plans to double global capacity by mid-century, China is not just playing the game - it is playing the game of the rules. &Piėkin is no longer just a participant in the nuclear market, but a factor for transformation. The country's nuclear industry offers comprehensive solutions with technologies, infrastructure development, power plant support and financing throughout their entire life cycle.
China's growing presence in Asia, Africa and Latin America is shaping what is being called the "Nuclear Path to the Silk Road", writes GIS Reports in its analysis. The agreements between China and its nuclear customers have always provided extensive privileges and exemptions for Beijing, deepening China's presence in relevant markets.
The New Nuclear Puzzle
For decades, when a country needed nuclear power, it had to accept the terms of the elite and closed nuclear club. Russia dominated the market with the state-owned company "Posatom", while Western companies such as Westinghouse and Arena controlled the segment of expensive projects implemented in the West. Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Egypt have little choice but to accept unfavorable financing terms and limited technology transfer.
Russia's entry into the global nuclear market has changed the dynamics of power. The Chinese proposals now challenge the Russians, Americans, French and South Koreans and allow potential customers to demand better financing terms, more technology transfers and greater control over their own nuclear programs.
Western companies are now struggling to compete with each other. more attractive financial packages from China and Russia. "Posatom" however, has had a number of difficulties due to sanctions, and projects such as the one in Turkey are being delayed. On the other hand, "Pekin" has committed to building at least 30 nuclear reactors in countries participating in the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. by 2030.
Πoĸażatelną e, sve "Posatom" sveąkvalne s fotofiniša sveąkrypų sveąk for the first modern NPP in Kazakhstan - a country that has huge deposits of uranium, but does not have a sufficiently developed nuclear energy industry. China's SNNC came in second after its Russian competitor had to significantly lower its initial bid, but it seems that this is not the end of the story.
From the statements of the chairman of the Kazakh nuclear agency Almazada Satkaliev, it became clear that an agreement will be signed with &Pekin for cooperation and the possibility of building the already planned second nuclear power plant in the country using its technology is being considered. ΠA similar Chinese attempt seemed completely impossible just a few years ago.
A highly efficient nuclear industry
ΠOver the past two decades, China has steadily expanded its nuclear power industry to 58 operating reactors by 2024. From 2022 The government approves about ten new reactors each year, meaning China could overtake the United States and become the world's largest nuclear power producer by 2030.
While construction spending increased significantly between the 1960s and 2000s - about tenfold in the United States and almost twice in France, in China's had halved by the early 2000s and remained stable since, according to an analysis published in the journal Nature.
From the 1990s to 2005, China imported foreign reactors while gradually producing simpler components. Between 2005 and 2010 Production localization efforts have advanced to include more complex components. Following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, China has accelerated the adoption of advanced safety features.
Replacing cheap imports with domestic production significantly reduces costs. Some Chinese nuclear components cost less than half the price of their imported counterparts.
When you have these domestic capabilities, packaging them into a product for the foreign market, and especially for countries that are not part of the major geopolitical camps, is simply a matter of time.