'Crucial year' for nuclear energy sector

Eight new nuclear reactors will go online this year and six to eight others will be approved, a senior industry official said on Wednesday.

"The year of 2015 marks an important year for China to resume its nuclear power program after Japan's nuclear crisis," Zhang Huazhu, chairman of the China Nuclear Energy Association, said during the 11th China International Exhibition on Nuclear Power Industry 2015 in Beijing.

The nation's installed nuclear capacity will soon approach 50 gigawatts. There are 23 nuclear reactors in operation and 26 under construction, the association said.