By the start of the 2000s, China embarked on a new path of industrialisation and development that demanded a reconfiguration of its supply of natural resources. By the end of the decade, the China Factor had become a synonym for an irrepressible engine of growth that was singularly driving global demand for natural resources. How did this happen? By Barry van Wyk
Bringing a populous and fast growing China up to the material living standards of the developed world has required the intake of resources on a massive scale. Yet what exactly does China do with all the millions of tons of natural resources such as coal, steel and copper? By Charles Avery
Nuclear power has entered a new era, and Asia—particularly China—is playing a leading role in a global re-assessment of nuclear power and its environmental advantages. China has targeted the period after 2020 to radically ramp up nuclear production, yet even in the decade before 2020, demand from China is likely to be a leading growth factor in the industry. By guest contributor Steve Kidd