China to build more nuclear power plants ( 2003-10-26 16:12) (Xinhua)
China will build one new nuclear power plant with an installed capacity of 2
million kilowatts at the mid-eastern coast of Zhejiang Province.
Kang Rixin, general manager of China Nuclear Industry Group Corporation, said
Zhejiang, with its fine economic and geographical conditions, is expected to
become China's biggest nuclear power base.
China's plans to build a comparatively affluent society in an all-round way
requires a total installed capacity of 8 trillion kilowatts by the year 2020,
when that of nuclear power plants will account for 4 percent to reach 32 million
kilowatts.
This means that more than 20 new nuclear plants would be constructed for hit
the goal, said an official from the State Development and Reform Commission.
The economically developed eastern China province houses the first nuclear
power plant in the Chinese mainland, the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant. Qinshan
plant, situated near Haiyan on the northern bank of Hangzhou Bay, has an
installed capacity of 2.9 million kilowatts.
Two heavy-water reactor generating units, with a generating capacity of
700,000 kilowatts each, have been installed in the Qinshan plant's third phase.
Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan and visiting Canadian Prime Minister Jean
Chretien Thursday attended a ceremony to mark to completion of the third phrase
of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, the biggest cooperation project between the
two countries.
The first generating unit began commercial operation in late December last
year and the second one in July this year. They have so far generated 6.16
billion kilowatts-hour of electricity.
There are now four nuclear power plants operating in China. Beside Qinshan,
Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant and Ling'ao Nuclear Power Plant are located in
Guangdong Province, south China, and Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant is built in
Lianyungang City of Jiangsu Province in the east. They four have a combined
installed capacity up to 8.7 million kilowatts.