Chinese Vice Premier Calls for Improvement in Nuclear Power Technology

Chinese vice premier calls for improvement in nuclear power technology

BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said Friday that China should reach world-class level in the construction of nuclear power plants as soon as possible.

Zeng made the remark when addressing a ceremony at which the State Nuclear Power Technology Corp. signed ordering contracts andcooperative agreements with nine manufacturers including China First Heavy Industries Co.

China should waste no time improving its mastery of the third generation nuclear power technology by combining foreign expertisewith self-innovation, he said.

The country must be capable of designing and making key nuclearpower equipment on its own and improving the quality of such equipment, he said.

In February, the State Nuclear Power Technology Co. signed a framework contract with U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co to buyfour third-generation pressurized water reactors.

Two reactors will be installed in Sanmen City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, and the other two in Haiyang City, east China’sShandong Province.

The third-generation nuclear power technology is expected to besafer and more economical than existing technology.

China is seeking alternatives to coal and oil as its double- digit economic growth faces energy bottlenecks. Nuclear power is expected to play a key role in helping the country develop in an energy-efficient and environment-friendly manner.

(c) 2007 Xinhua News Agency – CEIS. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.