Abstract
On July 30, CGNPC unveiled its phase one project of Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant, which marks that China’s construction of nuclear power has begun to move towards the west. From China’s first large commercial nuclear power plant—Dayawan Power Plant to Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant recently started, China’s construction of nuclear power has been always concentrated in east coastal areas. Seen from economic levels, the east is a developed area where there is great demand for industrial and civic electricity. In terms of geographic location, the east leans against the sea which can provide nuclear power plant with sufficient water sources. As far as power grid scale is concerned, the east has more solid power grid which can support large-capacity nuclear power units. However, as the progress of Develop-the-West Strategy and the transfer of manufacturing industry to the west, there will be an ever growing need for power in the underdeveloped western area, thus giving rise to the “Westward Movement”.
Compared with the east areas, central western area has more fragile ecology environment and relatively backward economic level. So the clean and reliable nuclear power is powerful supplement for western electricity. However, central west is also an area lack of water resources which explains why not all central western provinces fit for establishing nuclear power. Guangxi is the only western province by the sea, which is an important reason for that it was approved to establish the first nuclear power plant in the west.
It is said that after the establishment of phase one Fangchenggang nuclear power plant, annual 15 billion KWH power will be achieved and supplied to the south power grid. Compared with the coal power plant of the same scale, there will be at least 6 million tons of raw coal saved.