China's 3 G Nuclear Reactor Export Initiative—motivations And Challenges

With 36 nuclear reactors in operation and 21 under construction,China is on track to become a world leader in the civil nuclear industry within the next several decades.Following the 2011 Fukushima incident,China has placed an emphasis on constructing third generation or 3G reactors which are characterized by their advanced safety features.Domestically,China is building more 3G reactors than any other nation,both in cooperation with international firms such as Westinghouse and Areva,and through the development of its indigenous Hualong One reactor.Several of these 3G construction projects in China are scheduled to conclude before the end of the year.Seeking to make use of the experience it has gained in reactor design,construction,and operation,China has begun an initiative to export 3G nuclear reactors to nations keen on developing nuclear power infrastructure.This initiative is still very much in the preliminary stage,and there is some uncertainty about whether or not China is ready for such an undertaking.This study examines the underlying motives driving China's 3G export initiative,as well as the challenges that must be overcome in order for it to succeed.Though China's motives for pursing nuclear reactor exports are largely similar to those of other nuclear exporters in the past,China is somewhat unique in its desire to use 3G exports to demonstrate its newly acquired expertise in high technology.This motive relates directly to a unique challenge facing China's 3G exports,namely,the need to establish credibility in the international nuclear reactor market.Though on the surface,international concerns regarding the quality and safety of "Made in China"nuclear reactors seems justified,deeper analysis shows that China possesses the experience necessary to safely design,construct,and operate 3G nuclear reactors.Moreover,its nuclear industrial capacity has been greatly enhanced by the recent successes of its domestic nuclear program,giving it an advantage over its competitors in the international 3G market.Contrary to popular criticism,China's track record in fulfilling its obligations under the international legal regimes governing nuclear safety,security,and non-proliferation safeguards has been more than satisfactory.At present,China is poised to succeed in the handful of 3G reactor export agreements it has signed with countries such as Pakistan and Argentina.Achievements in these early endeavors will be essential for China in its aim to secure a dominant position in the international reactor market during its predicted "renaissance" in the next several decades.