Construction of the fourth generating unit in the second phase of China's Qinshan nuclear power plant is underway in Haiyan, east China's Zhejiang Province.

Four pressurized water reactors, each with an installed capacity of 650,000 kw and a life span of 40 years, will have been installed by the time the second phase is completed in 2011, said sources with Qinshan Nuclear Power Company.

Currently, two of the four planned generating units are in operation as work continues on the third generating unit.

After the completion of the second phase expansion project, Qinshan nuclear power plant will be capable of generating 18 billion to 20 billion kw/hours of electricity a year.

Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, situated on the northern coast of Hangzhou Bay, is the first nuclear power plant on the Chinese mainland to be built independently by Chinese engineers.

Construction on the plant began in 1985 and the plant was built with a 300,000-kw generating facility and a life span of 30 years. The plant started generating power in 1991.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2007)