21 April

A Japanese nuclear industry association report shows China had the third-largest number of reactors in operation as of January 2019. It also points to a change in the global nuclear power landscape.

The report, published by the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, says China has 44 reactors online, an increase of seven from a year earlier. That follows the United States, which has 98 reactors up and running, and France, with 58. The report says China is building or has plans to build 38 more reactors as it expands its nuclear-generation capacity to meet growing electricity demand and deal with air pollution.

This contrasts with moves in some other countries prompted by rising costs and safety concerns after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. Germany is phasing out nuclear power, and France has announced it will reduce its dependence on atomic power.—NHK