The No 1 generating set of the second phase of Qinshan Nuclear
Power Plant in East China's Zhejiang Province started to generate
electricity yesterday, marking the maturity of China's first
self-designed commercial-use nuclear plant.
The generating set, with a designed capacity of 600,000 kilowatts,
began to transmit power to the national electricity grid yesterday
in Haiyan, Zhejiang Province, 23 days ahead of the schedule.
"It is a milestone in the construction of the second phase of
Qinshan nuclear power plant and in the history of China's
utilization of atomic energy," said Yun Hongzhi, an official with
the Department of Nuclear Power of China National Nuclear Corp
(CNNC).
Yun said the move means that the second phase of China's biggest
State-owned nuclear power plant has moved into the operational
phase from the construction phase.
The formal operation will also prove China's ability to design,
build and manage its own nuclear plant and will greatly promote the
commercial use of atomic power, according to Yun.
The No 1 generating set, one of the two sets of the second phase,
is expected to run for commercial purpose after June, when it
reaches its full capacity.
The No 2 set, with the same capacity, will start to generate power
in December,.
Investment in the second phase project amounted to 14.8 billion
yuan (US$1.78 billion). The designed capacity of the second phase
is 1.2 million kilowatts and is expected to last for 40 years.
When the project is completed, Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant will
have an installed capacity of 1.5 million kilowatts and is expected
to boost the operations of the loss-making CNNC.
Wang Binghua, deputy general manager of the solely State-owned
CNNC, said the company would begin to make profits this year with
more sales of electricity generated by nuclear plants.
Last year, the company reduced its losses 30 percent, or by about
140 million yuan (US$16.9 million), from the previous year.
Power sales from the first phase of the Qinshan plant reached 800
million yuan (US$96.7 million).
The company said the No 1 generating set of the third phase of
Qinshan would also start operation at the end of this year.
(China
Daily February 7, 2002)