China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG) and the Hubei provincial government on Tuesday signed an agreement here to build the countrys first inland nuclear power plant.
\r\n\r\nThe two sides said the project will be located in Xianning City, 421 kilometers southeast of Yichang City where the Three Gorges Dam lies.
\r\n\r\nThe CGNPG declined to reveal the investment and scale of the project, as well as when it would start construction.
\r\n\r\nChina currently has 11 nuclear generators in six nuclear power plants, all located along the eastern coast, with a combined installed capacity of 9.07 million kilowatts. The CGNPGs installed capacity is 3.95 million kw, or 43.5 percent of the total.
\r\n\r\nFaced with an energy crunch resulting from its fast economic growth, China has decided to develop more nuclear power. By 2020, the nation will have an installed nuclear power capacity of 40 million kw, accounting for 4 percent of its total installed generating capacity.
\r\n\r\nAt present, another 12 nuclear generating units have been approved for construction, with a combined power capacity of 12.24 million kw.
