Chastened China may reduce n-power target by 10 gigawatts

In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan, a chastened China may be considering restraining its overly ambitious civil nuclear programme and focus instead on safety. The new policy will stress safety instead of rapid development, an industry official said in comments reported Tuesday by state media.

Such a shift in focus could lead to a reduction of about 10 gigawatts in generating capacity from n-power.

The statement by a top official comes even as Japan struggles to stop radiation leaks from a crippled nuclear power plant complex.

Beijing is promoting nuclear power to curb surging demand for oil and gas and wean away domestic consumers from polluting coal as an energy source. But analysts say the nuclear industry's overly ambitious plans are stretching China's ability to supply equipment and technicians.

According to mainstream newspapers, Beijing's nuclear power plan for the next five years would now shift focus from "energetic development" to "safe and highly efficient development." The papers were quoting the deputy director of the China Electricity Council (CEC), Wei Zhaofeng.

Such a shift in focus, according to Wei, should lead to a reduction of about 10 gigawatts in generating capacity, from the 90 gigawatts previously expected to be built by 2020.