HindustanTimes.com

Saturday, August 16, 2003

China to invest $8 bn for biggest nuclear power plant

Press Trust of India
Beijing, August 16

China will invest $8 billion to build its largest nuclear power plant with a
capacity of six million kilowatts in the southern province of Guangdong,
state media reported on Saturday.

The construction of the plant will start next year in Yangjiang city, Xinhua
news agency said. The plant is expected to begin production within 15 to 20
years.

Planned in mid-1990s, a project feasibility study was launched in 1996 by
the China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG). The final decision was
taken after evaluating the result of a project evaluation panel attended by
Chinese and foreign nuclear experts.

The government of Yangjiang city has agreed to set apart 472,485 square
metres of land for the project.

According to Chinese academicians Yangjiang is an ideal construction site.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the South China sea, it
has a favourable geological condition. Moreover, the sea serves as a
inexhaustible source of freezing water.

Domestic companies and those from the US, Japan and France have bid to
design the plant, the report said.


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