New Nuclear Corporation Launched in China

China has announced the establishment of a government nuclear power technology corporation.

The State Nuclear Power Technology Company, charged with introducing and developing third-generation nuclear technology, has been established by China's State Council and the country's four major government corporations, including China National Nuclear Corporation.

The company is close to completing negotiations with the US-based Westinghouse Electric on the introduction of third-generation nuclear technologies in the country, president of the new corporation Wang Binghua announced at the launch ceremony.

France's Areva and Russia's Atomstroyexport are the other two main foreign players on the Chinese nuclear power market.

Atomstroyexport is building two power units of the Tianwan nuclear power plant with a total capacity of 2,000MWt in eastern China's port city of Lianyungang. The plant, which is being built under a 1992 bilateral agreement, features improved VVER-1000 reactors and K-100-6/3000 turbo-generators.