China has approved a major development scheme for offshore nuclear power projects, the scheme is aimed at optimizing power generation in the country, which at present largely depends on thermal power for electricity.

MOSCOW, December 5 (Sputnik) — China has approved a major development scheme for offshore nuclear power projects amid plans to boost the generation of nuclear power in the country, the Xinhua news agency reported Friday.

"The decision will help unleash the [nuclear] industry's potential," Zhuang Huolin, chief engineer of China Nuclear Engineering Corp. under industry giant China Nuclear Engineering Group Corp (CNECC), was quoted as saying by the news agency.

The scheme is aimed at optimizing power generation in the country, which at present largely depends on thermal power for electricity.

Since Japan's 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, China stopped approving nuclear power projects. But according to Xinhua, domestic companies have improved their capabilities and heightened security to international standards since then.

For instance, at the National Energy Administration's Hualong project, three emergency power generators have been installed, designed to effectively reduce radiation seepage should it occur.

As part of the country's plans to expand its nuclear projects, China signed a memorandum of understanding with South Africa on Thursday, paving the way for an official partnership in nuclear fuel recycling, as reported by the news agency. China's General Nuclear Power Group (GNC), involved in steering domestic nuclear projects, also confirmed that they were discussing partnerships with the United Kingdom for future projects.

China has 27 nuclear power plants under construction, but currently nuclear power facilities only provide two percent of the country's power supply. This is significantly below the world averages of 15 percent.