Construction to begin on China-made nuclear reactors this year

BEIJING (AFP) May 26, 2004
Construction on four 1,000 megawatt Chinese-designed nuclear reactors is set to begin this year as part of a 9.7 billion dollar plan to build eight new nuclear power plants, state press reported Wednesday.

Construction will start at the Qinshan nuclear power facility in eastern Zhejiang province and at the Ling'ao facility in southern Guangdong province some time this year, the China Daily cited Kang Rixin, general manager of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), as saying.

"The four units will be designed and constructed with domestic technology," Kang was quoted as saying.

China's nuclear power industry, although only providing a small percentage of its overall energy, is expected to be one of the world's fastest growing in the coming years.

Five nuclear generators are already operating at the Qinshan facility, including three Chinese-designed reactors and two pressurized heavy water reactors with Canadian design.

Two 984 megawatt French reactors are operating at the Ling'ao facility.

In December, CNNC began taking bids from foreign companies for the other four nuclear power plants, with construction expected to begin in 2005, Kang said earlier.

Foreign companies such as Electricite de France, Westinghouse of the United States and Japan's Mitsubishi are all expected to vie for the contracts.

With nuclear power capacity expected to quadruple over its current level of 36,000 megawatts by the year 2020, the nation will need to build on average at least two 1,000 megawatt reactors a year over the next 16 years.

Nuclear power currently accounts for about 2.3 percent of China's electricity supply, compared to a world average of 16 percent, the paper said.

China currently has nine nuclear power plants in operation, with an additional two 1,000 megawatt Russian-made reactors under construction in eastern Jiangsu provoince.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2003 Agence France-Presse.



Source: http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040526033202.xl1izo5c.html

I dont get U, Who build your reactors so far?

Is this is Chinese?
What is written thare?

Scared to think about 100 nuclear powerplants in China in 30 years, if things go wrong, we are all blowed up.

It is not Chinese nor Japanese, some one just tried to "write" something in Chinese style, but he created just garbage.

Foreign companies such as Electricite de France, Westinghouse of the United States and Japan's Mitsubishi are all expected to vie for the contracts.

To HELL with Mitsubishi!  Those scumbags NEVER paid one cent for their use of slave labour.  I would rather have Chernobyl reactors than something from Mitsubishi.

Yea it is dangerous, do U have lots of earthquake in China?
Why do U need so many reactors from the beginning?

It creat lots of garbage u can not get rid.

There are some earthquakes in China although not that often, especially in the area's where the N.Power plants will be built.

But still IF there comes a earthquake, hell, we are finished.

Japan can take part in the First round, but they will not get contracts, they are merely used to put the price down of the other participants.

Btw, most plants will be built with Chinese technology anyway.

Yea it is dangerous, do U have lots of earthquake in China?

The Western regions of China, i.e. Xinjiang and Gansu, are more prone to earthquakes, as is the North East that is on the same techtonic plate as Japan.

Why do U need so many reactors from the beginning?

China faces a major electricity shortage for its current pace of development and projected lifestyle, therefore China needs to be able to produce more "clean" (i.e. little air pollution) electricity and also replace coal-fired power plants.  China also has a lot of uranium and thus the authorities want to take advantage of this situation.

Of course I disagree with this approach precisely because of the massive radiation concerns and I feel China must devote massive resources to the research and development of hydrogen exploitation.  But China faces tough choices.