First n-plant in China's ethnic minority region begin operations

The first nuclear power plant located in one of China's ethnic autonomous regions has begun commercial operations of its first reactor, the media reported on Saturday.

The No.1 reactor of the Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant in Guangxi Zhuang region can supply 24 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a day, catering to the needs of a medium-sized city, said Gong Guangchen, the plant's spokesperson said on Friday.

Based on the domestically developed CPR-1000, the No.1 reactor began generating power in October 2015. The plant's No. 2 reactor is expected to begin operating in the second half of 2016, the Global Times quoted Gong as saying.

The two reactors are expected to contribute 8 billion yuan ($1.2 billion) to the local GDP and create 64,000 new jobs annually. They will also cut coal burning by 4.82 million tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by about 11.9 million tonnes every year.

China has seen rapid nuclear power growth in recent years, but it suspended approval of new programmes after Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. Construction projects did not resume until 2014.

China currently has operating capacity of 25.5 million kilowatts and aims to raise installed nuclear power to 58 million kilowatts by 2020 in order to reduce pollution from coal-burning generators and deliver on its promise to reduce carbon emissions.