Today, some 80% of China’s electricity comes from fossil fuels (primarily coal), generating much of its air pollution. In contrast, its 11 nuclear reactors provide a very modest 2% of the country’s power. In addition to 11 new reactors under construction, China has 26 reactors in the planning phase (with 12 to begin construction by the end of 2010) and a further 72 proposed.
An official at China’s National Energy Administration recently stated that the country would stockpile uranium and buy overseas deposits in order to avert domestic shortages. With such an aggressive nuclear power agenda, China clearly recognizes the need to secure future uranium supply
