Rémy Autebert

China will become the world's largest nuclear energy user by 2030, and more than half of the world's new reactors will be built in China over the next 20 years, a senior executive of AREVA, a leading French nuclear technology provider, told the Global Times.

China is the fastest-growing energy market globally, said Rémy Autebert, senior executive vice president of AREVA Asia-Pacific.

The share of electricity from nuclear power projects in China can reach 10 percent or even more in 2030 from the current level of about 2 percent, he said.

The rapidly growing demand for electricity linked to economic growth, and air pollution caused in particular by traditional coal firing power generation will be the major motivators for China to develop clean and safe nuclear power plants, he noted.

"By 2030, the number of reactors in operation in China will account for one-third of the total number of global reactors (for electricity generation)," he said.

Currently China has 17 reactors in operation and 29 in construction, generating 1.97 percent of the country's electricity, which is much lower than France's 58 reactors producing 75 percent of the French electricity, as well as 100 reactors in the US generating 16 percent of the power.

As a leader in nuclear technology engineering, AREVA provides core technology and equipment to the nuclear power plants, including control systems, key parts, delivery of nuclear fuel, services to existing power plants and the construction of new reactors as well as engineering services to such nuclear plants.

The French energy group just celebrated its 30th anniversary of cooperation with Chinese partners CNNC (China National Nuclear Corp) and CGN (China General Nuclear Corp) in early December when the French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault visited China.

China contributes about 10 percent of AREVA global sales revenues.

China's civil nuclear industry is getting more mature after 30 years of development, as Chinese companies developed more technology over time, Autebert said.

By having the world's largest nuclear building program at home, China also has the ambition to tap into the nuclear energy export industry.

China's investment in Britain's 16 billion pounds ($26 billion) Hinkley Point project was its first foray into Europe's nuclear power market, according to media reports.