Industry Urges Congress to Renew US-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Obama administration has signed the renewal of a bilateral commercial nuclear cooperation agreement with China and sent it to Congress for review. This agreement is a prerequisite for continuing the substantial nuclear energy cooperation between the two nations. Following is a statement from Marvin Fertel, the Nuclear Energy Institute's president and chief executive officer.

"The U.S. nuclear energy industry urges Congress to support renewal of the U.S.-China Section 123 agreement. This agreement will enable continued U.S. leadership and influence in the critical issues of international nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation.

"Renewing the existing 123 agreement, which is scheduled to expire in December 2015, is essential for continued U.S. nuclear energy cooperation with China. This cooperation easily can bring with it billions of dollars of U.S. exports in goods and services, involve many U.S. supply and sub-supplier companies across the country, and create tens of thousands of American jobs.

"In response to soaring electricity demand and its severe air quality challenges, China is implementing an expansive national plan to develop up to 58 gigawatts of nuclear energy generation by 2020, 150 gigawatts by 2030 and considerably more by 2050. For the foreseeable future, China will be the single largest market for nuclear technology, goods and services. It already is building 26 nuclear energy facilities, including four Westinghouse AP1000s, a design that has been standardized for many of China's planned nuclear facilities.

"U.S. equipment and technology exports have enabled China to deploy the safest nuclear technologies. The strong U.S. presence in China's nuclear energy market and China's adoption of U.S. technology has served to deepen its relationship with the United States that has brought about significant advances in China's safety practices. U.S. assistance in developing China's nuclear energy program also is helping China to mitigate its world-leading carbon emissions and other pollution.

"The United States must not forfeit these important gains and opportunities. The U.S.-China nuclear cooperation agreement should be promptly renewed by the two countries on mutually acceptable terms."

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The Nuclear Energy Institute is the nuclear energy industry's policy organization. This news release and additional information about nuclear energy are available at www.nei.org.