Govt eyes nuclear energy as oil price rises
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US crude oil reached $107 a barrel earlier this week due to the turmoil in Middle East and North Africa, which now produce 35 percent of total world oil output and offer rare high-quality crude oil.
In China, the surging oil price has led to price rises for downstream products and some bulk products, including coal.
Zhang, the former top energy official said that nuclear power is one of the best sources of alternative energy.
The US, with a far smaller population, has 104 nuclear reactors, while China only has 13, according to Zhang. Nuclear energy accounted for only about 0.8 percent of all primary energy sources last year.
Zhang Huazhu, former director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, who is also a member of CPPCC National Committee, agreed with Zhang Guobao.
"China should accelerate innovation in nuclear power technology to realize its energy-saving and emission-reduction commitment to the international community, and to face the challenge of climate change," said Zhang Huazhu.
Zhang Guobao said the government will invest more in the development of nuclear power technology and in the training of specialized workers.
"China has made clear its strategy of accelerating the development of technology over the next five years, and I am confident we'll reach the point that 2.2 percent of the energy we use will come from nuclear power in 2016. This is part of our efforts to reduce China's reliance on coal," he said.
