The construction of a nuclear power plant in Yangjiang, a port city in south China's Guangdong Province, is expected to begin early next year, said Zhong Yi, vice mayor of the city.

It will be the largest nuclear power plant in China.

The plant will have six reactors with a total installed capacity of six million kilowatts and a budget of 80 billion yuan (US$9.86 billion).

According to Zhong, 93 percent of preparatory infrastructure for the plant, which was approved by the State Council, has been completed.

International bidding for plant equipment supplies was announced last September and remains open.

So far, a dozen international nuclear power giants have placed bids. Winners of the bidding will be chosen and announced before the end of the year.

China currently operates nuclear power plants at Daya Bay and Ling'ao, both in Guangdong Province, and Qinshan, in eastern Zhejiang Province, and has been building a fourth one at Lianyungang, in east China's Jiangsu Province.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2005)