BEIJING — China is planning to build 20 floating nuclear power plants in the South China Sea, reports Asia Times.
Chinese authorities have officially announced plans to start building the first floating nuclear power plant in the South China Sea. These are designed to power surrounding artificial islands being built in the region.
Floating nuclear power plants are offshore platforms containing small nuclear reactors built to power hard to reach islands or islets.
Floating power stations are believed to be less prone to natural disasters because emergency situations such as a melting core can be cooled by pumping in seawater.
Roughly 20 floating nuclear stations could be built to power troops and residents in the Spratly and Paracel islands. These regions are disputed between China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Asia Times reports that the first floating nuclear reactor will be functional and sea-worthy by 2021. A prototype is currently being tested off the coast of China's Shandong province.
According to Chinese state news agency, Xinhua Net, the first floating nuclear power platform would cost roughly US$2.1 billion.
