Beijing announces plans to build floating nuclear reactors in the South China Sea

China has announced plans to boost its sea-based nuclear capabilities through the establishment of a new joint venture.

A Chinese gas rig in the East Sea - Photo: Xinhua

According to the South China Morning Post, with this project, the Beijing government plans to develop floating nuclear reactors in the East Sea and other places.

On August 10, China National Nuclear Power Corporation announced that it will establish a new company with a registered capital of 1 billion yuan (150 million USD).

It is a joint venture between China National Nuclear Power Corporation, Zhejiang Zheneng Electric Power Company, Shanghai Guosheng Group, Jiangnan Shipyard Group and Shanghai Electric Power Company.

In a statement by the China National Nuclear Power Corporation, the agency said the establishment of the new joint venture aims to strengthen China's nuclear power capacity to meet its ambitions of "becoming a strong maritime power."

The announcement by the China National Nuclear Power Corporation did not specify how and where these nuclear power technologies would be used, but observers said they would certainly be deployed in areas such as the East Sea.

In a separate announcement, China's state-owned power corporation also said the newly established joint venture would aim to develop nuclear-powered ships.

Wang Yiren, deputy director of the State Administration of Science, Technology and National Defense (SASTIND), said earlier this year that expanding China's nuclear power capacity is a key part of the country's five-year plan.

Accordingly, China announced that it will prioritize the development of floating nuclear power generation platforms to support its offshore oil and gas exploitation activities and continue to show off its power in the East Sea.

Last year, the China Securities Journal reported that China could build 20 floating nuclear power plants to “promote commercial development” in the South China Sea.

According to TTO