China to set up first inland nuclear plant in Hubei

08 December 2008

The central Chinese province of Hubei is setting up country's first inland nuclear plant, a local planning official said on Sunday.

The cost of the first two phases of the project, with an installed capacity of 4 million kw, is estimated at 50 billion yuan ($7.3 billion). The third phase could cost 45 billion yuan.

The land designated for the plant in Xianning city has been cleared for the work to start and local authorities have relocated residents and road construction for the project has been completed, the official from the city's planning commission said. However, construction will start as soon as the environmental assessment report is approved, the official added.

The Hubei provincial government and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG) agreed in March to jointly build the plant. Hubei Nuclear Power Ltd. Co was formed in June,  a joint venture between CGNPG and Hubei Energy Group known  to develop nuclear power in the province.

Currently, Mainland China has 11 nuclear power reactors in commercial operation, seven under construction, with another 10 due for construction. 

The   11 nuclear plants are at six sites on the east coast, with a combined installed capacity of 9.07 million kw. The capacity of the CGNPG project is equivalent to 43.5 per cent of the total.