China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group, one of the country's two main nuclear station builders, yesterday said it plans to build China's first inland nuclear power station in Hubei province.

The company yesterday signed an agreement with the Hubei government for its nuclear plant, which will be located in Dafan, said a company statement.

The Hubei project is yet to be approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, a Guangdong Nuclear source said.

"We have started the preparation work for the project, but its capacity has not been decided yet," he said.

He said no decision has been taken as to which technology will be used for the project. Other sources said the station would use the AP1000 technology from Westinghouse.

Industry insiders had earlier told China Daily that the country's first inland nuclear plant was likely to be built in Taojiang of Hunan province.

The Taojiang project will be divided into two phases, each with a capacity of 2,000 MW.

China National Nuclear Corp, developer of the Taohuajiang project, last year entered into a joint venture, Hunan Taohuajiang Nuclear Power Ltd, with Hong Kong-based China Resources, China Three Gorges Project Corporation and Hunan Xiangtou Holdings Group.

(China Daily March 5, 2008)