Senior Chinese leaders Wu Bangguo and Wen Jiabao expressed high hopes and put forward requirements on safety, quality and efficiency of nuclear power projects, as the country kicked off construction of a new project in its northeast region.
China on Saturday began constructing the main body of the Hongyanhe nuclear power station in Dalian, a coastal city of Liaoning Province, the first nuclear power project in northeast China.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said in his written instruction that the construction of the Hongyanhe nuclear power station marks the beginning of China's new round of nuclear power station construction.
Wu encouraged technicians to make innovations and make progress in independent design, construction and operation of nuclear power station.
Premier Wen Jiabao called on efforts to ensure the safety and quality of the Hongyanhe nuclear power project and to improve the efficiency of construction and operation.
Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan announced the beginning of construction of the Hongyanhe nuclear power station at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Zeng said developing nuclear power is an important step China made to adjust energy supply structure, to achieve energy conservation and reduce pollutant discharge as well as to deal with global warming.
Zeng said the Hongyanhe nuclear power station is of great significance to revitalize the traditional industrial base in northeast China and to increase power supply in this region.
The first phase of the project consists of four generating units. The first unit, now being built, is expected to start commercial operation in 2012. It will be joined by the other three units in 2014, when annual electricity output of the station will reach 30 billion kwh.
The whole project will cost 48.6 billion yuan, jointly invested by
the China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group Holdings Co., Ltd, China Power Investment Corporation and Dalian Municipal Government.
Source: Xinhua
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