China must step up nuclear technology-vice premier

BEIJING, Nov 30 (Reuters) - China needs to boost its own nuclear technology capabilities on the back of major deals made recently with Western firms, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said on Friday.
The comments underscore Beijing's determination to become self-sufficient in advanced nuclear technology, as evidenced by the deal it signed with France's Areva this week.
While the 8 billion euro ($11.8 billion) contract was the biggest for commercial nuclear power on record, it came along with the demand that Areva transfer its technology through a consortium with its Chinese partner.
U.S.-based rival Westinghouse Electric, now owned by Japan's Toshiba Corp, also had to agree to such demands when it finalised a contract to build four "third generation" reactors earlier this year.
"(We must) seize the moment to promote work on self-sufficiency in nuclear power and thoroughly grasp third-generation nuclear technology so as to bring our nuclear power capabilities up to a world-class level as soon as possible," the central government Web site cited Zeng as saying.
China, the world's second-largest energy user, plans to spend some $50 billion adding about 30 reactors by 2020, raising its installed nuclear capacity to 40 gigawatts, nearly enough to power Spain.
Keen to increase its own technological prowess, Beijing often makes such technology transfers a prerequisite of major purchases or investments in a range of sectors. (Reporting by Jason Subler; editing by James Jukwey)
Source: reuters.com