China’s third nuclear power plant, a Chinese-Russian cooperation project under construction on the east China coast, will see its first generating unit connected to the local power grid next May. The first generating unit of Tianwan nuclear power plant would begin commercial operation in December 2004, Xinhua news agency reported quoting an official in-charge of the construction. Tianwan nuclear power plant, in Lianyungang, a port city in east China’s Jiangsu province, would eventually have six generating units and be completed in three stages. Key technology for the plant has been modelled on that of nuclear power stations in Russia and other countries. It would have four Russia-made pressurised water reactors. Russia gave credit to China for the two reactors construction and trained 310 specialists who would work at the nuclear plant.

The first phase of construction will include the installation of the no.1 and no.2 generating units with a combined capacity of 1.06 million kilowatts. Construction of the two units started in 1999 and 2000 respectively. The no.2 unit would start commercial operation in 2005, the official said, adding the fuel needed by the two generating units in the first three fuel replacement cycles would be made in Russia. The generating units would have to rely on domestically made fuel from the fourth fuel replacement cycle, he added. China is satisfied with the construction and Russian representatives hope to win a tender for reactor no.3 and no.4 construction. China might consider building such plants in the other Chinese regions if the current project is a success.