Alstom plans major China JVs

The French power and transport equipment giant Alstom is in talks with Chinese officials to establish two or three joint ventures or wholly owned subsidiaries, the South China Morning Post reported, quoting company officials. Alstom China president Alain Berger said the company plans to establish power and transportation ventures in Shanghai, Hubei province and elsewhere. Alstom has invested about US1.91bn in China since 1992 when it set up its first joint venture in Suzhou, Zhejiang province. China plans to increase its nuclear power generating capacity at least four times, to 40,000MW in 2020 from 8,700MW at the end of last year that means at least 30 nuclear plants will be built in the next 15 years and Alstom is expected to take a large share.