Asia-Pacific - vast potential for growth

Key figures

In figures

• 112 reactors
• 87 GWe (electrical gigawatt) installed in 2009 (vs. 86 GWe in 2008)
• 529 TWh (terawatt hours) of nuclear power generated in 2008 (vs. 545 TWh in 2007). These figures can be compared with a total electricity generation estimated at around 7,433 TWh in 2008, making an increase of 6.1% in comparison with 2007.
• 8% : estimated percentage of electricity generated by nuclear power.
• Share of consumption of electricity generated by nuclear power for different countries in the region: South Korea (36%), Japan (25%), India (2%), China (2%).

Prospects for the nuclear power market

In Asia, in addition to the programs in South Korea and Japan, new power plant construction will primarily occur in China (2005-2020 program) and in India, where the political situation has greatly progressed.

India has great ambitions for the development of its fleet of nuclear power reactors (currently 4GW). As a result, it could reach 20GW in 2020 and 60 GW in 2030. At the end of 2009, the Rajasthan 5 reactor was connected to the grid.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the provision of EPR™ reactors and fuel was signed on February 4, 2009, by AREVA with the nuclear electricity provider NPCIL, following a technical and sales offer in July. A partnership has also been signed with Bharat Forge for the construction of a factory to manufacture forged parts.

In China, according to the statements made by President Hu Jintao at the UN on September 23, 3009, nuclear and renewable energy will be actively developed to achieve the goal of 15% non-fossil primary energy by 2020. Concretely, China will need around 30 additional GWe: this currently represents the world’s largest deployment plan for the civil nuclear industry.

In late November 2007, AREVA signed an 18 million-euro contract with its client CGNPC (China Guangdong Nuclear Power Company) to construct 2 EPR™ reactors on the Taishan site in the Guangdong province, and to provide the nuclear fuel required for their functioning for over 15 years. The Taishan EPR™ project took an important step this year with the start-up of concrete-pouring operations at the end of October. Since then, AREVA and SGNPC have reaffirmed their dynamic partnership by signing an agreement in December 2009 to develop a joint engineering company in China, designed to foster cooperation on projects in China and internationally. At the same time, feasibility studies for the construction of a spent fuel treatment-recycling plant in China were launched with CNNC (China National Nuclear Corporation).

As part of its first long-term energy plan covering the period up to 2030, South Korea predicts a significant increase in the share of electronuclear energy produced (from 36% in 2008 to 58% in 2030).

In the medium to long term, several countries have shown their interest in an electronuclear program, including Vietnam and Indonesia.  

In Australia, the animated debate around nuclear energy continues and opinion poles show that a majority of Australians now favor the nuclear option. This trend is linked to a growing recognition of the need to act to address climate change.

Prospects for the renewable energy market

India shows strong prospects for significant development in bioenergy, solar energy and in the field of hydrogen. The potential, as estimated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, amounts to 20 GWe, while the fixed capacity is 1.4 GWe (2007 figures).

India is also a platform for access to high-potential countries in Southwest Asia. India enabled low-cost procurement associated with high levels of engineering and expertise.

China has demonstrated its willingness to promote and develop renewable energy. Close to 20% of its energy mix should come from renewable sources in 2020. These include: hydraulic energy, wind power, biomass and photovoltaic solutions. In 2008, China positioned itself as the world’s second largest producer of wind power. The Jiangsu Province ranks among the most economically developed regions and is firmly committed to the development of renewable energy technologies, notably the offshore wind turbine industry. In line with the National Plan, the Jiangsu Province will build the Chinese offshore facility with a capacity of 10MW. Moreover, China represents a high-potential solar energy market.

Australia also shows strong development prospects for solar energy.