The contracts were signed with State Nuclear Power Technology Company of China, Sanmen Nuclear Power Company, Shandong Nuclear Power Company and China National Technical Import & Export Corporation. Specific terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
The four plants are to be constructed in pairs on China’s eastern coast at Sanmen in Zhejiang province and Haiyang in Shandong province. Construction is expected to begin in 2009, with the first plant in Sanmen to begin operations in late 2013. The remaining three plants are expected to come online in 2014 and 2015.
The Westinghouse/Shaw AP1000 consortium was selected to build the first four nuclear power plants in China’s nuclear expansion program as originally announced in December 2006. Based on framework agreements signed in March 2007, preliminary design, engineering and long lead time procurement work is already underway.
JM Bernhard Junior, chairman, president and CEO of Shaw, said: These historic contracts signed today will result in delivery of clean, safe, reliable and economical baseload generation for China. We are excited to lead the nuclear renaissance with our partner, Westinghouse, whose advanced, third-generation AP1000 technology clearly has world-recognized benefits for utilities and consumers alike.
