国内英语新闻：Construction on new nuke power plant kicks off in SE China

FUZHOU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Construction on a new nuclear power plant started Friday in southeast China's Fujian Province.

    The Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant, located in the coastal city of Fuqing, requires an investment of around 100 billion yuan (14.6 billion U.S. dollars).

    It will have six units that generate millions of kilowatts each.

    During the first phase of the project, two units will be built and put into operation in 2013 and 2014. They will use advanced second-generation pressurized water reactor technology. The two units are expected to generate more than 14 billion kilowatts of electricity annually, most of which would be consumed within the province.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (C) shakes hands with project representatives during the inauguration ceremony for the construction of the Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant in southeast China's Fujian Province Nov. 21, 2008

    "Nuclear power is a kind of clean, efficient and reliable new energy," said Vice Premier Li Keqiang during the plant's inauguration ceremony. "To develop nuclear power is important for improving the country's energy structure and security."

    China National Nuclear Corporation, Fujian company of China Huadian Corporation and the government-funded Fujian Investment & Development Co. Ltd. will jointly build and operate the plant.

    The three companies have a stake of 51 percent, 39 percent and 10 percent, respectively, in the new plant.

    An unidentified local government official said three billion yuan has already been spent since preparation work for the project started in 2007.Another five billion was planned for 2009.

    The project is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs.

    Currently, China has 11 nuclear power reactors in operation. All reactors employ second-generation nuclear power technologies.

    The country plans to have 40-million-kilowatts of installed capacity in nuclear power by 2020, accounting for four percent of China's energy production.

    Right now, installed capacity of nuclear power is only about nine million kilowatts, or about two percent of the total power the country produces.