China is likely to launch a nuclear power project with
one-million-kilowatt capacity in the eastern province of Zhejiang, an official with the China National
Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said.
The project is proposed by the CNNC, a state-owned nuclear
energy conglomerate, to build a domestically manufactured nuclear
plant of such a massive capacity.
Actually it is part of an extension project of the Qinshan
nuclear power plant in east China's Zhejiang Province.
Experts have approved a feasibility report and the central
government is examining the project proposal, safety analysis of
plant location, and evaluation report of the impact on
environment.
"It takes us six years and more 200 million yuan (US$25 million)
to design the project," said CNNC General Manager Kang Rixin.
China began developing its nuclear power industry in the late
1980s to help ease the energy bottleneck. In March this year, the
State Council adopted a strategy to promote nuclear power
capacity.
The goal is to make the nation's total installed capacity of
nuclear power reach 40 million kilowatts by 2020.
(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2006)