Second unit at Fuqing nuclear plant to start operation in August

FUZHOU - The second unit of the Fuqing nuclear power plant in East China's Fujian province, is expected to start operation and be connected to the power grid in August next year, local authorities said.

The first unit at the plant was connected to the grid on Aug 20 this year. The third unit is under installation and is expected to start operation in February 2016, according to the provincial state-owned assets supervision and administration commission.

The fourth unit is expected to be operational in March 2017. The plant will eventually house six pressurized water reactors, according to the commission.

With a planned power generation capacity of 45 billion kilowatt hours, the plant is expected to yield an annual revenue of 17 billion yuan ($2.77 billion) and employ 30,000 people after the six units being fully put into operation.

China National Nuclear Power Co Ltd, Huadian Fuxin Energy Corporation Limited and Fujian Investment an Development Group Co Ltd hold 51 percent, 39 percent and 10 percent of the joint venture respectively.

There is another nuclear power station in Ningde city, Fujian province. Its first generating unit was put into commercial operation on April 1 last year and the second unit started operation in May this year.

China now has 19 operating nuclear power units and 29 units under construction, ranking it as one of the biggest nuclear power nations in terms of the number of such facilities, according to the National Nuclear Safety Administration in June.