China’s state council has approved the construction of eight new nuclear power units in four provinces, with four of them using the next-generation Hualong One 2.0 reactor technology for the first time, state-owned China General Nuclear said on August 4.
The approvals cover plants in Zhejiang, Guangdong, Liaoning and Shandong provinces, representing Beijing’s most ambitious single batch of nuclear construction permits in years. The Hualong One 2.0 is an upgraded version of China’s flagship domestically designed pressurized water reactor, featuring improved safety systems and higher output capacity.
The move accelerates China’s nuclear expansion at a time when the country is racing to meet its carbon reduction targets while meeting surging electricity demand from data centers and electric vehicles. China already operates the world’s second-largest nuclear fleet and is on track to overtake France in operational capacity by the end of 2026.
The approvals come just days after China connected its Changjiang-3 reactor to the grid and began commercial operations at the Taipingling-2 plant, signaling a rapid pace of construction and commissioning. China now has more reactors under construction than any other country.
Beijing has set a target of 200 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2040, roughly triple current levels. The decision to deploy the Hualong One 2.0 commercially underscores China’s push toward full energy independence in reactor technology, reducing reliance on foreign designs.
Industry analysts note that the batch approval signals confidence in the domestic supply chain after years of development. The Hualong One 2.0 incorporates lessons learned from the original design, including modular construction techniques aimed at reducing build times.
The approvals are also geopolitically significant, as China’s nuclear ambitions proceed even as the United States and European nations debate the pace of their own nuclear restarts. China’s nuclear program remains largely insulated from international sanctions or export controls.
NucNet: China Approves Eight New Nuclear Plants
World Nuclear News: China Approves 8 New Reactors
Sources: NucNet, World Nuclear News, China General Nuclear.
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