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China plans to build third N-power plant

HONG KONG: China is planning to build a third nuclear power plant in southern Guangdong province, it was reported on Tuesday.

Guangdong Nuclear Power Group has submitted proposals for a third six million kilowatt nuclear power plant to be built in Yangjiang to the state council in Beijing for approval, a company official said quoted in the Beijing-backed Ta Kung Pao.

The proposed new plant aims to boost economic development in western Guangdong province, home to three of China's five special economic zones which were set up to attract foreign technology and investment, the official said.

The other two plants in Guangdong are the plant in Daya Bay, built by a French consortium comprising Framatome, Electricite de France and Alstom, and the nearby twin-reactor power station under construction at Ling'ao which is expected to come on line by 2003.

Foreign investments would also be attracted for the third plant. The new plant will be built in six phases, starting in 2002, with the first two generators to start operation in 2009, and the rest in 2015.

Despite a recent freeze in new construction projects due to a slow down in electricity demand, Chinese authorities expect to see a rapid development in nuclear energy in the next century.

During the government's 10th five-year plan from 2001-2005, which is still under discussion, between six and eight new 1,000 megawatt reactors could go no line, adding to an existing three reactors, industrial sources said.

China hopes nuclear energy will make up to three percent of its total energy production by 2006 and up to five percent by 2020. At present only about one percent of its electricity is generated by nuclear power.ÑAFP