CHINA STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR PLANT

BEIJING, Dec 16 (Bernama) - China began Tuesday the construction of a
nuclear power plant south of the country that is among energy projects slated
under a 4 trillion yuan (US$584 billion) stimulus package to fight the global
economic crisis.

The 70 billion yuan plant in Dongping town in Yangjiang city of Guangdong
province being built by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group will have six 1,000
megawatts units, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The first reactor will begin operations in 2013 and all six will be ready
by 2017. The plant will generate 45 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity
annually.

Xinhua quoted National Development and Reform Commission vice-minister
Zhang Guobao as saying that the plant would save 16 million tonnes of coal and
reduce
carbon dioxide emissions by 36 million tonnes.

China plans to double nuclear power generating capacity to 40 million
kilowatts by 2020 to make up 4 per cent of energy supply.

The China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) said last month that at least nine
nuclear power plants will be built over the next two years to add to existing
11 with 9.1 million kilowatts capacity.
-- BERNAMA