Only a scant two percent of China's total electricity supply is generated by nuclear energy, a fact that makes China the world's fastest-growing atomic energy market.

The country's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) earlier announced plans to raise the percentage of China's nuclear power-produced electricity to six percent by 2020 from the current two percent. 

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China currently operates 20 nuclear power reactors at six separate sites. A further 28 power plants are under construction with more about to be built. Some of the newest power plants will be equipped with the world's most advanced nuclear reactors.

All these nuclear power plants will generate a massive 58 gigawatts of electricity by 2020 and 150GW by 2030. Most Chinese nuclear power plants are located along its eastern coast since they use seawater for cooling their reactors.

French power generation multinational Alstom SA said it expects to take a significant piece of this potential by supplying most of China's need for the steam turbines that convert nuclear power into electricity.

Chen Chaoming, vice-president of Nuclear China-Alstom Thermal, pointed out that China will install another 800 gigawatts of capacity for nuclear power. He said that some 70 percent of this capacity use Alstom technology for steam turbines and other key components.

Chen noted that China's nuclear market has a huge potential for growth.China should, therefore, build more nuclear plants to feed its growing energy demand.

Last October, Dongfang Electric Corp signed a cooperation agreement with Alstom, which will supply turbine and generator packages for China's nuclear projects.

These generators will include modern third-generation AP1000 technology developed by Westinghouse Electric Company of the USA.Chen called this agreement strategically important for both Alstom and DEC since China has resumed building nuclear power plants and is moving towards safer and more efficient third-generation technology.