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CHINA is lifting its block on approving new nuclear power plants, and is looking to “steadily” return to construction put on hold by the Fukushima disaster.

The government remains cautious, however, and has imposed restrictions on both plant technology and siting. It has also scaled back its plans to add new capacity, reducing its targets by around 20%.

In a meeting yesterday, the Chinese State Council said it will only approve a “small number” of new plants over the next three years. They will be built along the coast, with inland sites still prohibited, and  even then will be restricted to using modern ‘Generation-III’ reactor designs, such as the Westinghouse AP1000.

“New nuclear power projects must be built in accordance with the world’s highest safety requirements,” says the State Council, in its report on the country’s long-term nuclear development plan.

The government put a moratorium on its ambitious plans for nuclear expansion – which called for the construction of some 100 plants by the end of decade – in the wake of last year’s accident at Fukushima in Japan, calling for plant inspections and a review of its own safety standards.

China had previously been planning to bring 50 GW of nuclear capacity online by 2015, but in its latest white paper revised the target down to 40 GW. It is currently able to generate about 12.5 GW from 15 operating reactors.

According to the World Nuclear Association, there are currently more than 25 reactors currently under construction within China, with more set to begin once they gain government approval.