The plant to be built in Shanghai's Pudong New District is designed to have the capacity to generate 100,000 megawatts of electricity annually by means of thermal energy generated through burning 365,000 tons of rubbish, the paper said.

The project, expected to be completed in October 2001, will cost 670 million yuan (US$80.7 million), including a low-interest loan of 30.17 million offered by the French government.

The majority of the loan will be used to buy some key technology and equipment from France for the new power plant, an official surnamed Tao who is responsible for the construction of the plant and the installation of the equipment was quoted as saying.　

The plant will keep a close eye on the discharge of waste gas and smoke and fume emissions in accordance with the emission standards set by the European Union, said the official, adding that the new plant will become a pilot project for neighboring areas of Shanghai and other big cities in terms of rubbish disposal.

Shanghai now yields more than 10,000 tons of household waste every day, of which about 80 percent is buried after a fermenting procedure to decrease harmful elements.

(China Daily)