China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the sole state-owned
nuclear energy conglomerate, wants to build a new nuclear power
plant in East China's Zhejiang Province.
CNNC President Li Dingfan said the company is asking the central
government to allow it to build a 2 million kilowatts nuclear power
plant in Sanmen, Zhejiang, near the Qinshan nuclear power plant,
China's first self-designed nuclear plant.
Li, who attended the 10-year anniversary of the Qinshan plant's
operations last weekend, said the US$3 billion plan hinges on the
government's approval.
"Nuclear power is clean, safe and efficient. It is especially
useful in areas like Sanmen, which is in need of electricity but
lacks extensive power grids, Li said.
Yu
Peigen, general manager of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Company, said
the success of the Qinshan plant in the last decade proves that
nuclear power is of great economic and social benefit.
By
the end of last month, the Qinshan plant had generated 16.7 billion
kilowatt-hours of electricity, posting a turnover of 4.9 billion
yuan (US$591.7 million).
No
pollution or leaked radiation has been found over the last 10
years, local environment supervision institutions claimed.
Qinshan plant, with a total installed capacity of 300,000
kilowatts, is now one of two nuclear power plants in operation in
the country. The other, with a capacity of 900,000 kilowatts, is in
Daya Bay in South China's Guangdong Province.
Besides another four 6.6-million-kilowatt plants under construction
now, the central government has indicated it will build more
nuclear power plants in the next five years, though the exact
number has not yet been decided.
Coastal provinces including Zhejiang, Shandong and Guangdong are
vying for a plant.
Sun Guangdi, a senior CNNC official, said the proposed reform of
the power industry could weigh down the profitability of nuclear
power plants because of the high expense.
Yu
called on the government to grant favorable policies to nuclear
power plants to support the fledgling industry.
"A
child needs a hand to walk before he can run," Yu said.
Nuclear power represents 1 per cent of the country's total power
output, much lower than the 17 per cent average for nuclear power
as opposed to conventional power in advanced countries.
Four nuclear power projects, with a total installed capacity of 6.6
million kilowatts, are now under construction in China, including
the second-phase construction of the Qinshan nuclear plant.
CNNC officials said the US$1.8-billion second phase of Qinshan,
with a capacity of 600,000 kilowatts, could begin commercial
operation in June.
The third phase, with a combined capacity of 1.4 million kilowatts,
is expected to generate electricity by 2003.
(China
Daily December 17, 2001)