The country's biggest nuclear power plant is expected to be
built in Yangjiang, a port city in south China's Guangdong
Province.
Qian Zhimin, general manager of Guangdong Nuclear Power Co Ltd,
said construction of the project will officially begin in 2006.
Qian said his company has given responsibility for construction
and operation of the project to Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co Ltd.
Hu Wenquan has been appointed as general manager of Yangjiang
Nuclear Power Co Ltd.
Earlier this year, the city government of Yangjiang signed a
contract with Qian's company to transfer land use rights of the
construction site for the gigantic project.
Foreign companies from the United States, Japan and France are
now competing with domestic firms to bid for the design of the
project, Qian said.
Located in the western part of Guangdong Province, Yangjiang
Nuclear Power Plant will include six generating units. Each has a
capacity of 1 million kilowatts.
The first two generating units will be able to start generating
electricity in 2010, while all six generating units will come on
line in 15 to 20 years.
Construction of the nuclear power plant is estimated to cost
more than US$8 billion.
Meanwhile Guangdong Nuclear Power Co Ltd will build another
nuclear power plant in Shenzhen's Daya Bay in 2006.
The Lingdong Nuclear Power Plant, or the second phase of the
current Ling'ao Nuclear Power Plant, will include two generating
units with a capacity of 1 million kilowatts each.
Guangdong will be able to generate more than 12 million
kilowatts when both nuclear plants go on line.
Guangdong already has two nuclear plants in operation.
Daya Bay and Ling'ao nuclear power stations can produce four
generating units, with 1 million kilowatts each.
(China Daily December 3, 2003)