China is suspending its development of nuclear power plants amid rising public anxiety. As the country’s economy develops rapidly, nuclear power had been seen as key to answering the need for rapid growth in production of electricity.

Some 28 reactors – or 40 per cent of the world’s total under construction – are being built in China. The country’s current capacity is 10.8 gigawatts, though analysts expected a target of up to 80GW in the coutnry’s new five-year plan due at the end of this month.

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Meanwhile, a Peabody energy executive says coal will benefit from the move away from nuclear, noting that “[T]hey’re going to have to go somewhere [for power production].”

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Coal to benefit from nuclear crisis in Japan: Peabody official Platts