China Guangdong Nuclear Power Company (CGNPC) has received central government approval to build two nuclear reactor units in the southern province of Guangxi.
The first-phase of development at Fangchenggang will cost 24 billion yuan (about 3.5 billion US dollars, 2.7 billion euro) and comprise two domestically developed CPR-1000 units with capacities of 1,080 megawatts each, according to a statement published today.
Construction of the two units at Fangchenggang will start by the end of this month and be completed by 2016, according to the statement.
China wants 15 percent of its energy demand to come from clean sources by 2020 to reduce emissions and reliance on coal and oil.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, China has 11 nuclear units in commercial operation and 24 under construction.
Last week CGNPC announced that the first unit of the Ling Ao II nuclear power plant was connected to the grid on 15 July and has begun trial operation.
The unit, 1,080-megawatt CPR-1000, achieved first criticality on 9 June. Commercial operation is expected to begin in October, when it would become China’s twelfth commercially operational nuclear unit.
