South China's Guangdong Province is planning to spend nearly 74
billion yuan (US$9.45 billion) building three major nuclear power
stations by 2010.
The size of the investment will set a precedent for spending on
power-generation, surpassing outlays on traditional coal-fired and
hydroelectric power plants, Xinhua News Agency reported
yesterday.
During the 11th Five-year Plan (2006-10), Guangdong will focus
on developing the second phase of the Ling'ao Nuclear Power
Station, the first phase of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station and the
first phase of Taishan Nuclear Power Station, said Chen Shanru,
director of the Development and Reform Commission of Guangdong
Province.
By 2020, the installed capacity of all nuclear power stations in
Guangdong is expected to reach 24 million kilowatts, accounting for
60 per cent of the country's total nuclear power output.
Of the country's current installed capacity of 8.7 million
kilowatts, nearly 4 million kilowatts are generated in
Guangdong.
The project is part of a larger effort to restructure the
province's power-supply. The project's goal is to develop more
clean energy to fuel Guangdong's fast-growing economy, Chen was
quoted as saying.
The province, which is home to the country's largest economy,
lacks the energy resources necessary to develop traditional power
stations. Guangdong imports most of its coal and petroleum from
other parts of the country or from abroad.
Construction of the second phase of Ling'ao Nuclear Power
Station in Shenzhen started at the end of last year.
It was the country's only nuclear power station project between
2001 and 2005. Its two 1-million-kilowatt power generators will
start operating in 2010 and 2011.
Construction of the first phase of the Yangjiang Nuclear Power
Station will start early next year.
The time frame for the Taishan Nuclear Power Station has not
been decided yet.
Both the Yangjiang and Taishan plants are located in West
Guangdong.
Chen said the province had chosen 10 sites for new nuclear power
stations, and the feasibility studies have been going smoothly.
Two projects, located in Zhaoqing and Yunfu, are expected to
take priority among the 10, according to the Xinhua News Agency
report.
(China Daily December 25, 2006)