While enjoying phenomenal economic growth in recent years, China 's hunger for energy continues to soar. It takes a huge toll on environment since most electricity produced is supplied by fossil fuels. As such, Beijing is forging ahead with its ambitious plans to harness the power of the atom.

China now has nine nuclear power reactors in operation (in Daya Bay , Qinshan and Lingao NPPs), generated a combined 52.3 TWh of electricity in 2005, and another two are expected to go on line by early 2006 (in Tianwan NPP). The expansion plan¡ªalready approved by the National People's Congress as part of the country's Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2006-2010)¡ªwould see an increase in nuclear generating capacity to 40 GWe by 2020 when about 4% of the country's total installed capacity is expected to be nuclear from a mere 2.3% currently. In an effort to meet this development goal, 25-30 nuclear power plants will be built over the next 15 years, translating into an average of 2GWe per year being added.