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Nuclear energy plants to power up
By Xiao Wan (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-02-06 10:42

"Coal, the main energy source in China, is mostly produced in the northern parts of the country and hydropower is mostly found in the Southwest, but power consumption is concentrated in the coastal regions in the east and south. As a clean energy, nuclear power is a good alternative for China," said Kang.

Apart from CNNC, other companies such as China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co Ltd, and the China Power Investment Corp have also taken an active part in the nation's nuclear sector.

New technology

Eight of the 11 existing nuclear power generating units in China, either in operation or under construction, have been imported from France, Canada and Russia.

Last year China and the United States signed an agreement which paves the way for US-based Westinghouse Electric Co to build four nuclear reactors in China.

Under the contract, Westinghouse's AP1000, a third- generation nuclear technology, will be used for four nuclear reactors, two in Sanmen, East China'sZhejiangProvince, and another two in Yangjiang, South China's Guangdong Province.

However, China has placed great importance on the development of its own technology to build nuclear reactors. The CNP 1000 technology of CNNC will be used to build two 1,000-megawatt reactors in Fangjiashan, not far from the Qinshan project in East China's Zhejiang Province.

AndChina Huaneng Group, the nation's largest power company, also launched the construction of its first nuclear power plant using high temperature gas-cooled reactors.


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