An illustration of China's electricity industry in 2006.[Photo: China Daily]

China plans to build eight nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 8,000 megawatts (MW) at Tianwan nuclear power station, in a move to make the plant one of the nation's primary power bases.

"Once completed (Tianwan) will become an important nuclear power base in the world," said a source close to the project, who declined to be named.

At present the world's largest nuclear power station is in Japan, with seven reactors and a capacity of 8,200 MW.

Located in Lianyungang in East China's Jiangsu Province, the Tianwan project has two reactors in operation, each with a capacity of 1,060 MW. The two AES-91 pressurized water reactors currently use Russian technology.

Construction of the project started in 1999. With a total investment of nearly 30 billion yuan ($4.07 billion), it is the largest cooperative project between China and Russia.

Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corp is responsible for the operation of the project. The State-owned China National Nuclear Corp has a 50 percent stake in the company.

In November, China and Russia signed an agreement for Phase II of the Tianwan project, under which Russia will provide another two 1,060-MW reactors.

The two parties will sign the final contract in September 2008, Jiang Guoyuan, general manager of Jiangsu Nuclear, told China Daily.

Plans for the other four reactors are still in the preliminary stage. Decisions have not yet been made about what technology will be used, said a source close to the project.

China is now developing third-generation nuclear power technology. In July the country finalized an agreement with US-based Westinghouse to use AP1000 technology to build four nuclear reactors, two in Zhejiang and another two in Shandong.

China signed an 8-billion-euro agreement in November with French nuclear company Areva for two nuclear reactors, a record agreement for the French company.

Under the agreement, Areva will supply two third-generation EPRs (European pressurized reactors) for the project in Taishan in South China's Guangdong Province.