China has revealed they are considering plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon, in order to power a potential research facility the country is reportedly planning with Russia.

China has ramped up its space program in recent decades, promising to put astronauts on the Moon by 2030. The country’s Chang’e-8 mission scheduled for 2028 would potentially lay the groundwork for a permanent manned lunar base.

During a presentation given by a senior government official on Wednesday in Shanghai, the 2028 mission’s Chief Engineer Pei Zhaoyu said the proposed lunar base could also rely on large-scale solar arrays, pipelines and cables for heating and electricity.

Russia‘s space agency announced last year that it was planning to build a nuclear reactor on the Lunar surface in conjunction with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to power the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS)

The inclusion of a proposed lunar nuclear reactor in China’s space presentation to a group of officials from 17 countries and international organizations suggests that Beijing is in favor of the reactor, despite the government not officially saying so.