China had 20 nuclear reactors under construction at end-March: nuclear association

[BEIJING] China had 20 nuclear reactors under construction at the end of March, with a total capacity of 23.11 gigawatts, the China Nuclear Energy Association said on Thursday.

China had 36 reactors in full commercial operation at the end of last month, with a total capacity of 34.72 gigawatts, said association chairman Zhang Huazhu, speaking at the group's annual assembly in Beijing.

The two combined equate to just under 58 gigawatts, in line with China's five-year plan for the power industry by 2020.

Half of the 20 new units are advanced "third generation" reactors, Mr Zhang said, and include the world's first AP1000 designed by Toshiba Corp's Westinghouse at Sanmen on China's eastern coast.

The first AP1000 unit is set to go into operation in the second half of this year after several delays. Mr Zhang said the project was now in the testing stage, with "laid foundations" in place to ensure that target was met.

REUTERS