As the use of nuclear energy continues to become popular in China, new projects for nuclear plants are being delayed due to safety issues, including the upcoming winter in sites in the northern provinces.
While revising its safety standards, China has put nuclear plant approval and construction on hold, following the massive earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011.
Still, China wants to guarantee economic growth and energy security. The country is planning to expand its nuclear power capacity, so it is currently undertaking the largest nuclear reactor construction program in the world, World Politics Review reported.
As a major clean energy source that will indicate China's economic growth, nuclear power accounts for less than 2 percent of installed electricity capacity, according to China.org.cn.
In financial meeting held in June, President Xi Jinping said that China should not lose time in building nuclear power projects in the eastern coastal provinces.
To date, China has 17 operating nuclear power plants with installed capacity of 14.83 million kilowatts in total.
Former National Energy Administration (NEA) head Zhang Guobao confirmed that construction had been expected to start on numerous coastal nuclear projects.
However, Zhang said "approvals will depend on how quickly they are able to resolve the challenges of the third-generation nuclear power technology to meet the required safety standards."
The NEA has revealed that 31 reactors are about to be built, which accounts for about 40 percent of the nuclear plants under construction around the world.
A recent NEA meeting sparked rumors that China will begin a program of new nuclear plants. The meeting reportedly reviewed third-generation nuclear technologies to determine the best technical route to be commercialized in China, which is currently the fastest growing nuclear market in the world.
Instead of requiring human action, third-generation plants depend on so-called passive safety measures such as gravity.
One technology that is being considered isHualong 1, developed by Guangdong-based China General Nuclear Power Corp. and the China National Nuclear Corp. A modified version of the Westinghouse Electric Corp's third-generation AP1000 reactor called CAP1400 is also being studied for development.