Nuclear power plant to be built in NE China

China is to begin constructing on Saturday its first-ever nuclear power plant in its northeastern Liaoning province, a key heavy industrial base of the country.

Located in city Wafangdian on the Liaodong Pininsula, the planned nuclear power project, named Liaoning Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant, will involve a total investment of 50 billion yuan, or some 6.5 billiion dollars. Its first phase project is expected to be completed in 2014, with four-set milllion-kilowatt turbine generators put into operation, producing each year at least 29 billion kilowatt hours of electricity.

It's believed that the nuclear power plant will substantially improve the energy structure of northeast China, satisfying the regions rocketing energy demands brought about by rapid economic growth.

The new power plant is also expected to help reduce environmental pollution, optimise the region's power grid, and promote the manufacturing industry of nuclear power plant equipment.

Currently about 80 percent of China's electricity is produced from fossil fuels, mainly coal, with hydro power accounting for only 18 percent. Due of the nation's heavy reliance on old coal-fired plants, electricity generation accounts for much of the country's air pollution, which is a strong motivator for increasing the use of nuclear power.

Moves to build up China's nuclear power base commenced in 1970 and the industry has now moved onto a steady development phase.

Chinese first two nuclear power plants were at Daya Bay in Shenzhen and Qinshan, south of Shanghai, with construction starting in the mid 1980s.