One of the plants now being built, Tianwan-2, is scheduled to be ready to start generating power from next year but the other four – Lingao-3, Lingao-4, Qinshan-6 and Qinshan-7 – are not due to become operational until 2010 or 2011.

But beyond this timeframe, the plans for future developments are truly extraordinary. More than 16 provinces, regions and municipalities have announced intentions to build up to 69 nuclear power plants of varying sizes from 2011-2015.

At this time, China’s known uranium reserves (about 70,000 tonnes) are believed to be sufficient to meet the needs of its nuclear development program in the short term. Domestic mining operations supply about half the country’s consumption, with the balance imported from Russia, Namibia and Kazakhstan.

But if only half of the developments planned for the next decade come to fruition, China will have to look further afield for uranium to import – and that inevitably means it will be knocking on Australia’s door.

With that scenario in mind, representatives from Australian uranium mining and exploration companies, financiers and others who have links to or interests in the nuclear industry will on June 11 and 12 have the opportunity to knock on China’s door by touring the country’s first nuclear power plant, Daya Bay-1, which was commissioned in 1994.

The China Nuclear Tour 2006, organised by Australian resources consultancy Sustainability, was prompted by suggestions from several Australian companies whose executives wanted to see a nuclear power plant first-hand, according to Sustainability chief China representative Xu Gang.

The tour also coincides with Sustainability’s China Power & Alternative Energy Summit 2006, which will be held at the Kempinski Hotel Beijing from June 8-9.

Xu said the China Nuclear Tour would offer delegates the “highest level reception”. China’s nuclear industry is dynamic, and state-owned companies China Guangdong Nuclear Power and China National Nuclear are trying to develop relationships with international uranium suppliers and thus were keen to work with Australian companies.

The schedule includes a meeting with the chairman of China Guangdong Nuclear Power at the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Base, as well as an open discussion and review of the plant’s history between the station operator and the Australian delegates.

Delegates will also visit the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant (Plant 1) and the Ling’ao Nuclear Power Plant (Plant 2). Daya Bay produces about 13 billion kilowatt hours per year of electricity, of which 70% is transmitted to Hong Kong and 30% to Guangdong province.

Unlike India, which recently indicated its interest in importing Australian uranium for its own nuclear power facilities, China has been party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty since 1982.

Although the country conducted nuclear weapons tests from 1964-1996, it has since signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. China also has “peaceful use” agreements for nuclear materials with Canada, the United States, Germany and France.

For more information on the tour, visit www.sustainability.net.au.