Datang forges ahead in nuclear power

Datang International Power has made a deal with Guangdong Nuclear Power Investment to build two 1,000 megawatt nuclear power generation units in Ningde, Fujian province, the South China Morning Post reported. The venture, into which Datang could invest US$1.4 billion over the next seven years, makes Datang the first listed mainland power company to move into nuclear power. The government is keen to develop the nuclear option in the face of rising oil prices and pollution created by coal-fired power plants. It plans to spend US$49.6 billion on increasing nuclear power generation capacity from the 9,100 MW recorded in 2004 to 36,000-40,000 MW by 2020.