SANMEN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - OFFICIALS MARK THE START OF

UNCLAS SHANGHAI 000186


STATE PASS NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
DOE FOR INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCE FOR MAC AND MAS
NSC FOR LOI
STATE FOR EAP/CM - HABJAN AND OES/PCI - ROSE
STATE ALSO FOR S/SECC, EEB/ESC/IEC, AND OES/EGC AND OES/STC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ECIN EINV TRGY BEXP CH
SUBJECT: SANMEN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - OFFICIALS MARK THE START OF
CONSTRUCTION


1. On April 19, the National Development and Reform Commission
- National Energy Administration (NEA),China National Nuclear
Corporation (CNNC),State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation
(SNPTC),and the Sanmen Nuclear Power Company hosted a
construction commencement ceremony for the Sanmen Nuclear Power
plant in Sanmen, Zhejiang Province, China. This ceremony marked
the beginning of phase one of the nuclear power plant
construction. Known as the Sanmen Nuclear Power Self-reliance
and Supporting Program, the Sanmen project is a collaboration
between Chinese and foreign firms to build a nuclear plant using
Westinghouse AP1000 technology. The AP1000 reactor is the first
3rd generation reactor to be built in China.


2. Over 1,000 project-related workers and 400 VIP guests
attended, including Vice Premier LI Keqiang, NEA Administrator
ZHANG Guobao, Ministry of Environmental Protection Vice Minister
LI Ganjie, Zhejiang Provincial Governor LU Zushang, CNNC General
Manager KANG Rixin, the Chairman of SNTPC and others. Bill
Borchardt, Executive Director for Operations, Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC),Cindy Rosales-Cooper, Assistant for
Administration and Finance, NRC as well as Embassy and Congen
Shanghai staff (Department of Energy (DOE) and Environment,
Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Sections) represented the
United States.


3. Chinese officials praised the Central Government for its
support of the project, calling it a milestone in China's
nuclear power development history. In his remarks, Vice Premier
Li underscored the need to develop new energy such as nuclear to
ensure the country's energy security and to boost economic
growth. He said China needs to adjust its energy structure to
diversify its energy sources and enhance conservation and
emission control. Zhang Guobao said that this project is the
biggest cooperation project between the United States and China
and highlights the two country's efforts in the peaceful use of
nuclear power. China made the right decision in choosing the
Westinghouse AP1000 reactor because it is the safest technology
of its kind that will optimize China's energy structure and
protect the environment, said Zhang.


4. The Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant will be built in three
phases, with an investment of more than CNY 40 billion (USD 5.88
billion) injected in the first phase. The first phase project
will include two units each with a generating capacity of 1.25
million kilowatts. The first generating unit will be put into
operation in 2013, and the second, in 2014. The plant will
eventually have six such units.


5. This report has been coordinated with Embassy Beijing DOE
and ESTH sections.

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