Over the next few decades, at least half the world’s new
nuclear power plants are likely to be built in in East Asia. Most of these new
plants will be built in China, Taiwan and South Korea. However, there are
tentative proposals planned for the region, including Vietnam
and Indonesia. However, one thing for certain, Australia will be supplying the
uranium to these countries. It funny that Australia is happy to mine uranium sell
it for export, but not use it itself.
Elsewhere in the region, the events at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear plant have caused countries to pause and reflect about their nuclear
power programs. As a result, new design and regulatory standards have been put
in place. However, it has stopped China, Taiwan and South Korea from continuing
with its plans to expand its nuclear sector. Already, South Korean has
announced plans to increase the number of nuclear power plants it operates from
21 today to 40 units by 2030. This will mean nuclear contribution to Korea’s
electricity market will increase from 31% to 56% by 2020. Because of its
lengthy experience of operating foreign technology, mainly Westinghouse for
some time, Korea itself has now developed its own commercial design the
OPR-1000. Korea plans to export at least 80 units by 2080, supplying perhaps
20% of the world market, bring new competition to suppliers in the US, France
and Russia. Already, Korea has won an order to build four large reactors in
UAE. In addition, it is seeking orders
in Jordan, Turkey, Rumania, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Ukraine.
China has similar on-going plans to expand its nuclear power
capacity from 10 GW today to 70 GW by 2020. It is currently building six new
nuclear plants each year which could mean that by 2050 nuclear power will
supply 400 GW of China’s needs. Again, like South Korea, China has evolved its
own independent designs the CAP1000 AND CAP1400 based mainly on earlier
imported Westinghouse designs. However, Western designs such as from the US and
Europe are being built, including two 1650 MW European Pressurised Reactors on
the coast near Shanghai at Sanmen.
Taiwan currently operates 5 nuclear power plants using the
latest in Westinghouse and General Electric technology, at present two new
plants are being constructed, with the first one due for completion in 2013. At
present nuclear capacity provides 11% of total national generating capacity,
which will increase once the new plants are in operation.
However, one thing is certain the future is bright for
nuclear power in the East Asian region. Because of the entrants of new designs
from this region, being developed should help make investment in nuclear power
a more attractive commercial proposition than before.
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