China now has the capacity to build as many as 50 nuclear reactors simultaneously, reported chinanews.com.cn quoting the nuclear energy authorities.
According to the South China Morning Post, China currently operates around 60 nuclear reactors, with dozens more under construction and several additional projects recently approved. If these are completed on schedule, the country’s installed nuclear capacity could reach roughly 120–125 gigawatts in the coming years.
By 2040, China is expected to reach 200 GW of installed capacity, Yang Changli, rotating chairman of the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA), said.
The expansion is part of a broader push to cut carbon emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. That effort has taken on added urgency amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. Beijing has set a goal of becoming a “strong” nuclear power by 2030, aiming to surpass the U.S. in installed capacity and become the world’s largest producer.
China’s nuclear power investment rose to 161 billion yuan (US$23.6 billion) in 2025, marking a 9.6% increase from the previous year, according to the CNEA. Most construction activity continues to be concentrated in coastal provinces, which are key hubs for industry and energy demand.
China’s domestically developed Hualong One reactor is now being built at scale. Eight units are already operational, with 33 more approved, making it one of the most widely deployed third-generation designs.
The country is also working on newer technologies, including high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and exploring industrial uses for nuclear energy. Pilot projects are under way to use reactors for supplying high-temperature steam in sectors like petrochemicals, potentially replacing coal-fired systems.
The CNEA report shows, despite the rapid build-out, nuclear power still made up just 4.82 per cent of China’s total electricity generation last year.
