Decouple How China Builds Reactors So Fast
Oct 28, 2025
François Morin, a lead for the World Nuclear Association on China, brings his unique insights from traveling across Chinese reactor sites and speaking fluent Mandarin. He discusses the impressive speed of China’s nuclear construction compared to past French standards, revealing the challenges of transitioning from coal and gas. François explains the operational nuances of various advanced reactors, including the CAP1400, and the cultural hesitancies toward inland builds. He also highlights China’s ambitious plans for sodium fast and high-temperature gas reactors, while addressing geopolitical hurdles in nuclear exports.
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Seeing an SMR In Person
- Morin visited the ACP-100 Linglong SMR and found it noticeably smaller than neighboring Hualong units but still large.
- He warns calling it "small" misleads neophytes because civil works remain substantial.
Nuclear's Small Share Persists
- Nuclear still supplies only about 5% of China's electricity despite expansion.
- Morin says reaching 15% by 2035 is unrealistic given current build and grid connection rates.
Approvals Don’t Equal Construction
- China approves roughly ten new reactors yearly but only about half start real construction due to regulatory safety scrutiny.
- François Morin highlights the Nuclear Safety Authority slows construction to investigate sites thoroughly, not simple political rubber-stamping.