China to build 2 new nuclear plants

China has reportedly begun building two new nuclear energy reactors in Dalian city in the northeast Liaoning province, Chinese news agencies say.

The Wednesday report adds that the project will move forward with an investement of around $3.7 billion.

The two nuclear power projects, with a total capacity of two million kilowatts, are due to be completed by 2016.

China has the world’s largest number of nuclear reactors under construction. Nuclear power is expected to account for eight percent of the country’s total power capacity by 2020, analysts said.

Currently, China has 10.8 gig watts of nuclear power capacity in operation, which accounts for around one percent of the total power capacity, according to the National Energy Administration.

China’s National Development and Reform commission reports that China intends to raise its nuclear power from the current one percent to six by 2020.