State television in China reports that scientists there have developed technology enabling it to reprocess spent nuclear fuel.
The BBC reports the latest breakthrough could provide fuel for China's future nuclear power stations for years to come.
Scientists have apparently been working on this technology for 24 years.
State television says they have now perfected a procedure that will allow them to reprocess spent nuclear fuel.
It is a complex and costly procedure, but the recycled material can be used again to fuel nuclear power stations.
The BBC reports France, Britain and India already have their own reprocessing facilities.
China is building a number of new nuclear power plants in an effort to diversify its energy sources. At the moment it mostly relies on coal.
State television says the country currently has enough known uranium for at most 70 years.
