Key facts
- Nuclear scientist Du Xiangwan clarified his role in China's waste-to-energy sector.
- Speculation had linked nuclear weapon technologies to municipal waste incineration.
- Du confirmed his team's research and consulting on pilot projects in the sector.
One of China's leading nuclear scientists, Du Xiangwan, has publicly addressed his involvement in the nation's expanding waste-to-energy industry. For years, there have been speculations suggesting a connection between nuclear weapon technologies and the processes used in municipal waste incineration. In a press release issued on June 2 by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Du Xiangwan, a seasoned physicist in nuclear weapons and an academician at the CAE, confirmed that he and his research team have been actively engaged in research and consulting activities. These efforts are specifically related to the development of pilot projects within the waste-to-energy sector.