Beijing gives go-ahead for first new nuclear project since 2012

China General Nuclear Power Group has received state approval to build a nuclear reactor in Liaoning province, only the third such reactor to be built since the nationwide halt and safety review of new reactors following the Japanese Fukushima disaster in 2011, Reuters reported, citing state media. Beijing has pledged to maintain the highest safety standards in their quest to raise domestic nuclear power capacity to 58 gigawatts by 2020, from 20.3 gigawatts at the end of 2014, though this would only meet 3% of China’s energy needs.