China begins testing self-developed 1000 mw nuclear reactors

Beijing: China has begun testing of its indigenously built 1000 mw nuclear reactors as part of the country's ambitious plan to increase electricity generation and use of non-fossil-fuel energy.

The testing of the pressurized nuclear reactors started at Fangchenggang in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the first nuclear power plant built outside China's east coast.

The project, which began in 2010 in South China has now entered a 168-hour test period under full power to assess its readiness for commercial operation, the China National Radio (CNR) reported.

The project, co-established by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) with Guangxi Investment Group Co Ltd, included construction of two pressurized-water reactors using independently developed technology in its first phase.

Each of the reactors will have an installed capacity of 1,080 megawatts of electricity.

China is aggressively marketing its 1000 mw nuclear technology. Pakistan, Argentina and recently Britain opted for new Chinese nuclear reactors.

The plant is scheduled to contain six nuclear reactors, each with the capacity to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity, CGN said.

Once complete, the plant is estimated to be able to provide 15 billion kilowatt hours of energy to the Beibu Gulf Economic Development Zone in Guangxi.

When compared with a coal-powered plant with a similar capacity, the new nuclear plant will be able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 11.86 million tons every year, state-run Global Times reported today.

The nuclear plant in Guangxi is one of 23 key projects designed to help boost the development of China's interior, which is underdeveloped compared with the eastern cities.

Construction of the plant comes amid China's efforts to increase the use of non-fossil-fuel energy to comprise 15 per cent of the nation's primary energy consumption by 2020.

China currently has 23 nuclear power generating units in operation and 27 under construction, stated to be the world's largest number of reactors under construction.

As per the recent reports, China plans to build 110 nuclear power plants by 2030 with an investment of USD 78.8 billion, overtaking the US' 100 nuclear reactors amid criticism that Beijing is yet to implement enough measures to develop safety control in nuclear plants.

 China will build six to eight nuclear power plants annually for the next five years and operate 110 plants by 2030 to meet the urgent need for clean energy, according to local media reports.

China will invest 500 billion yuan (USD 78.8 billion) on domestically developed nuclear power plants, the report said, adding that the country plans to increase its electricity generation capacity to 58 gigawatts by 2020, three times the 2014 level.