The country's biggest nuclear power plant is expected to be built in Yangjiang, a port city in south China's Guangdong Province.

Qian Zhimin, general manager of Guangdong Nuclear Power Co Ltd, said construction of the project will officially begin in 2006.

Qian said his company has given responsibility for construction and operation of the project to Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co Ltd.

Hu Wenquan has been appointed as general manager of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co Ltd.

Earlier this year, the city government of Yangjiang signed a contract with Qian's company to transfer land use rights of the construction site for the gigantic project.

Foreign companies from the United States, Japan and France are now competing with domestic firms to bid for the design of the project, Qian said.

Located in the western part of Guangdong Province, Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant will include six generating units. Each has a capacity of 1 million kilowatts.

The first two generating units will be able to start generating electricity in 2010, while all six generating units will come on line in 15 to 20 years.

Construction of the nuclear power plant is estimated to cost more than US$8 billion.

Meanwhile Guangdong Nuclear Power Co Ltd will build another nuclear power plant in Shenzhen's Daya Bay in 2006.

The Lingdong Nuclear Power Plant, or the second phase of the current Ling'ao Nuclear Power Plant, will include two generating units with a capacity of 1 million kilowatts each.

Guangdong will be able to generate more than 12 million kilowatts when both nuclear plants go on line.

Guangdong already has two nuclear plants in operation.

Daya Bay and Ling'ao nuclear power stations can produce four generating units, with 1 million kilowatts each.

(China Daily December 3, 2003)