China's rapid growth in nuclear energy is accelerating with the latest announcement that construction will start on five new nuclear plants is 2015 - this is in addition to the 26 already being built. And the country's Premier recently reiterated his call for nuclear firms to expand abroad. Examples of this outreach include: China's agreement to invest in new nuclear projects in the UK and France; and China recently won the contract to construct Argentina's 4th nuclear reactor and will also provide US$2 billion in funding for the new build. Argentina's nuclear industry currently relies 100% on imported uranium while U3O8 Corp's Laguna Salada Deposit - the only project with a NI 43-101 resource and preliminary economic assessment in Argentina - could provide an option for local supply. China advances world's most rapid nuclear reactor build-out - Since 2011, China has commissioned 11 new reactors to bring its total to 22 operating units (Figure 1). 26 reactors are currently under construction and are scheduled to come online over the next five years, tripling the nation's nuclear electricity capacity to 58Gwe. 64 more reactors are planned. The five reactors on which construction is expected to start in 2015 are the first new builds to be approved since Fukushima - and underscore China's commitment to nuclear as a safe source of clean, base-load electricity. Chinese nuclear companies going global - China's Premier is also pushing its nuclear organizations to expand their global reach. In December 2014, China General Nuclear (CGN), the country's largest nuclear power generator, listed in Hong Kong in a US$3 billion IPO with proceeds to go towards doubling its nuclear fleet at home and concluding more uranium supply and reactor construction deals overseas; and China is also investing US$2 billion in the construction of Argentina's 4th reactor and is bidding to build its 5th nuclear plant. China is investing heavily in Argentina with US$23 billion spent to date, mostly in the energy, mining and financial sectors. In February, Argentina's president will be in Beijing to meet with her Chinese counterpart to continue to deepen bilateral ties between the two countries. Figure 1 - China's Nuclear Power Plant Construction *Length of coloured bars on above graph mark the start of construction to commissioning. Source: WNA Jan. 16, 2015 - China's Premier urges nuclear firms to boost overseas presence Jan. 13, 2015 - Cristina Fernandez to Beijing in February; more financial support from China Jan. 5, 2015 - China renews atomic ambition with 5 reactors planned in 2015 Dec. 16, 2014 - CGN, Kazakh nuclear firm sign uranium pact Nov. 28, 2104 - Nuclear giant launches US$3.1b IPO in Hong Kong Sept. 22, 2014 - China invests $2b in Argentina's nuclear power plant TSX: UWE OTCQX: UWEFF www.u3o8corp