By Xiao Wan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-02-13 07:10

All of China's existing nuclear power plants are located in coastal areas.

Coastal provinces such as Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong have all said they are preparing sites to host new nuclear stations.

Several inland regions have also taken part in the development of nuclear power.

Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing have all said they are planning to build China's first inland nuclear power plant.

Construction work started on Sanmen nuclear power plant in Zhejiang province in January.

With two 1,000-mW nuclear reactors using technology from the US-based energy company Westinghouse Electric Co, the plant represents the cutting edge in nuclear power.

Last year China finalized a contract with a consortium led by Westinghouse to build four nuclear power reactors, including two in Sanmen, one in Haiyang, and one in Shandong province.

Compared with earlier generation technology, reactors using third generation technology have longer operational lives and are safer.

Westinghouse said its equipment has been selected for at least 12 reactors in the US to be built over the next 10 to 12 years.

Last year China also signed an 8-billion euro ($11.6 billion) agreement with the French nuclear company Areva to supply two third-generation nuclear reactors for a project in Taishan, Guangdong province.

Construction of the two reactors, each with a capacity of 1,700 mW, could begin fall of 2009.

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