A national nuke-used zirconium materials production facility, the first of its kind in China, is being built at the new and high-tech zone of Baoji city in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, a source with SNPTC-BaoTi Zirconium Industry Co., Ltd. said Sunday.

The project, also including the construction of a national R&D and test center for nuke-used zirconium materials, is expected to lessen China's reliance on imports of such materials.

Total investment in the project is estimated at 2.6 billion yuan (US$380.67 million).

Covering 19.85 hectares, the project is expected to start production in October 2011.

The project is being implemented by SNPTC-BaoTi Zirconium Industry Co. Ltd., which is a joint venture between the State Nuclear Power Technology Corp. (SNPTC) and BaoTi Group based in Baoji.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2009)