Westinghouse to build four nuclear reactors for China

24 July 2007

Mumbai: Westinghouse Electric Co. has signed a multi-billion deal with Chinese partners to build four nuclear power plants in China and to transfer technology for its newest reactor to China''s government-owned State Nuclear Power Technology Corp.

The four nuclear reactors, each with 1.1 GW generating capacity, to be built in eastern China, would use the third-generation AP1000 design, a technology, industry officials say, nearly half of the world`s operating nuclear plants use.

Pittsburgh-based Westinghouse, owned by Japan`s Toshiba Corp., said construction of the plants would start by end-2009 or early-2010 and the first reactor would be operational in 2013.

The deal, earlier estimated at around $8 billion, is expected to improve relations between the world`s top energy consumers amid disputes over China''s rising trade surplus with the US and a firm yuan currency.

Under the deal, Westinghouse will transfer technology for the AP1000 to the State Nuclear Power Technology Corp. Westinghouse president Steve Tritch said the Chinese buyers have asked the company not to disclose details.

"We will transfer basically the complete technology to allow the Chinese to eventually become self-sufficient and eventually apply this technology themselves within China," Tritch told reporters.