Russia Promises To Help China Overtake America Become The Largest Nuclear Power Manufacturer

UNSPLASH/Nicolas HIPPERT ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Russia has promised to help China overtake the United States as the world's largest nuclear power producer.

This affirmation was conveyed by the head of Russia's state nuclear company, Rosatom, in a statement broadcast on state TV on Wednesday, September 3 after talks in Beijing.

The United States operates the world's largest nuclear reactor network, with an installed capacity of nearly 97 gigawatts (GW).

China is racing to build dozens of reactors and has an operational nuclear power reactor capacity of 53.2 GW in April 2024, according to the US Energy Information Agency.

China has ambitious plans for atomic energy development. Its task has been set to pursue and surpass the United States in installed capacity, meaning it reaches a capacity of more than 100 gigawatts," Alexei Likhachev, Head of Rosatom, told Russian state television.

When asked by state television whether Russia would help China on the target, Likhachev replied: "Of course. We will help. We have helped."

Russia has helped build four nuclear reactors in China and is building four more reactors, and China needs large amounts of uranium and nuclear fuel for its ambitious plans, Likhachev said.

As a result, China needs to develop a new generation of closed nuclear fuel cycle reactors based on Russian technology, he said.