The “China Nuclear Energy Development Report 2026” Blue Paper shows that the country has developed globally leading nuclear power engineering and construction capabilities, currently possessing the capacity to construct 50 nuclear power units simultaneously.
Latest data indicates that in 2025, the completed investment in nuclear power engineering construction reached 161 billion yuan, an increase of 14.1 billion yuan compared to the previous year. As the country’s nuclear power engineering construction technology steadily improves in terms of self-reliance and localization, it has progressed from the previous “single-unit construction” phase to a “multi-unit simultaneous construction” stage, gradually forming a full lifecycle construction and operation capability for nuclear power projects, spanning from preparation to construction and from cold testing to commercial operation.
It was stated that by actively utilizing digital and intelligent means and scaling up the application of advanced construction technologies, the scale of nuclear power engineering construction, along with capabilities in safety, quality, and schedule, has reached internationally leading levels, enabling the simultaneous construction of 50 nuclear power units.
Nuclear Power Equipment Manufacturing in 2025 Nearly Tripled Compared to 2023
While nuclear power construction capacity continues to strengthen, nuclear power equipment manufacturing capability is also advancing simultaneously. Currently, through independent research and development and localization efforts, the country has established an annual manufacturing capacity of over 10 sets of major nuclear power equipment, achieving 100% localization of major nuclear power equipment and independent control over key component technologies.
In 2025, nuclear power equipment manufacturing enterprises delivered a total of 148 sets of major nuclear power equipment throughout the year, nearly tripling the figure from 2023, ensuring the needs of the country’s large-scale nuclear power construction.

It was further noted that to date, the country has become one of the few nations in the world with a complete nuclear power industrial system, having established a nuclear fuel element processing and supply system covering various reactor types such as pressurized water reactors, heavy water reactors, and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, providing solid support for the sustainable development of nuclear energy.
Nuclear Fusion Technology Research Reaches Internationally Advanced Levels
It was stated that since 2025, the country’s independent innovation capability in nuclear power technology has significantly enhanced, yielding a large number of major scientific and technological achievements. In the area of small modular reactors, the “Linglong One” demonstration project is nearing completion and commissioning. In nuclear fusion, devices such as “HL-3” and “EAST” have continuously set new records for technical operating parameters, with nuclear fusion technology research reaching internationally advanced levels.

It was added that this year, the research and development of advanced nuclear energy systems such as the integrated closed-cycle fast reactor, the ultra-high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, and the thorium-based molten salt reactor, as well as fusion reactors, will enter a critical攻坚 stage. The national major science and technology infrastructure, the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT), will be fully completed.
China Nuclear Energy Development Report 2026
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