China Finally Signs Off on Westinghouse Deal

Westinghouse Electric Company has been given the go-ahead to begin development of four AP100 nuclear power plants in China, following the signing of a multi-billion dollar deal that will see construction begin in 2009.

The deal follows years of planning by China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC), which originally announced it would use Westinghouse in 2003, following appraisals of tenders.

Westinghouse will work with consortium partner The Shaw Group on the project, aiming to bring the first reactor online in late 2013. The remainder shall be be built every following year.

Westinghouse president and CEO Steve Tritch says the plant will increase the company's number of AP100 reactors to 16, with 12 already in operation in the US.

They will also generate up to 500 jobs within the US nuclear industry and will mark the first ever deployment of US nuclear technology in China.

"The plants will greatly increase China's ability to generate significant additional baseload electricity in a clean, safe and economical manner," Tritch says.

AP100 reactors are based on standard Westinghouse pressurized water reactor technology with an 1100MWe design.

Westinghouse says its reactors were chosen for their economic benefits, a key selling point being they require less steel, components and systems.

By Penny Jones