SOUTHEAST ASIA — China reportedly set a target of exporting 30 nuclear reactors to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative by 2030. The projected value of these exports is 1 trillion yuan, or approximately US$145 billion.

As of 2026, China operates 61 nuclear reactors and has 36 more under construction, giving it the world’s third-largest nuclear reactor fleet and the largest number of reactors currently being built. The country has localized about 90% of nuclear reactor components domestically, supporting its export ambitions.

The Hualong One (HPR1000), a third-generation pressurized-water reactor jointly developed by China National Nuclear Corporation and China General Nuclear Power Group, forms the backbone of China’s nuclear export strategy. More than 40 Hualong One reactor units are either operational or under construction. Each unit generates approximately 1,100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about one million homes.

China has established nuclear cooperation agreements or ongoing projects in Pakistan, Argentina, Kenya, Kazakhstan, and Saudi Arabia. Several Southeast Asian nations are also positioning themselves to adopt nuclear energy in the coming decade. The Philippines and Indonesia aim to operationalize nuclear reactors in the early 2030s, while Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore are studying small modular reactors as part of their future energy planning.

Collaboration with regional partners dates back at least to 2015, when Thailand’s Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding acquired a 10% stake in two Hualong One reactors at Fangchenggang in Guangxi province. In connection with that project, Chinese firms trained Thai nuclear professionals.

China leads global nuclear construction as of 2026, according to verified data. This capacity, combined with its domestic supply chain and reactor standardization, underpins its ability to pursue reactor exports. The Hualong One design has received regulatory approval in China and is being marketed internationally as a standardized export product.