China starts construction of 3.6 mln kw coal-power facility

China has commenced the construction of a RMB 16.4 billion integrated coal-power facility located in Hulunbeier, Inner Mongolia, sources reported.

The complex, including six generators, will have 3.6 million kilowatts of installed capacity, and it is expected to produce around 21.6 billion kWh of electricity. The first three will start production next year, and the remaining three are expected to start operation in 2010.

The power facilities will provide sufficient electricity to boost the economic development of the neighboring Liaoning province, which was an old industrial base of China, said Zhang Guobao, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Huaneng Group, Beijing Guohua Electric Power Co, and Beijing Deyuan Investment Co. are the major investors of the project, RMB 11.2 billion of the total investment will be allocated to the power plants, and the remaining RMB 5.2 billion will be invested in the coal mines.

Separately, Datang Huayin Electric Power plans to build a coal-to-natural gas facility in Inner Mongolia, involving a total investment of RMB 17.4 billion.