China is expected to have 30 nuclear reactors in operation by the end of this year with plans to promote inland nuclear power projects for the next five years, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Liu Baohua, head of the nuclear power department of China's National Energy Administration, said there are currently 27 in operation but that number will rise as another three units are undergoing testing and likely to be commissioned by the end of the year.

"By then, the total installed capacity will hit 28.3 gigawatts," he said during a forum in Beijing.

He also said that China will push forward steadily nuclear power plants in the inland area for the next five years in a bid to optimize the country's energy mix and reduce the carbon footprint.