China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has begun building a 650MW reactor in the southern island province of Hainan, China.

The reactor, the second of the two to be built in the first phase, will start commercial operations in 2015, according to Bloomberg.

Investment in the initial phase of the Changjiang plant will exceed CNY20bn ($3bn).

Work on the 650MW first reactor began in April 2010 and is expected to become operational by the end of 2014.

China needs to achieve a 2020 target of sourcing 15% of its energy needs from non-fossil fuel resources and is accelerating construction of nuclear plants to meet that goal.