China to spend $3.7-billion on nuclear facility in quake-hit Sichuan

23 July 2008

The provincial administration China's Sichuan region, which was hit my massive earthquakes in May that killled an estimated 70,000 people, is planning its first nuclear power station in five years.

China's Southwest Electric Power Design Institute has begun a feasibility study for a nuclear power plant near a small town called Sanba in Sichuan Province, an official with the Nuclear Power Institute of China told Interfax.

Xinhua reported quoting local media reports that the provincial administration will soon submit an application to the state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, for the construction of the nuclear power plant in the inland region.

It said experts involved in conducting the feasibility study for the proposed Sanba nuclear project have reportedly already concluded that the plant will be safe.

The 4000-6000 MWe plant would be located at Nanchong on the Jialing River and would require a total investment of 25 billion yuan ($3.7 billion).

State-owned China Guangdong Nuclear Group will be the main shareholder, but the project will also be open to other investors, the report said.