China's largest nuclear power generator has been connected to the national power grid, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced Saturday.

The trial launch of the No.1 generator of Tianwan Nuclear Station in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province, marked the success of the largest cooperation project between China and Russia.

The generator is expected to go into commercial operation at the end of this year. The No.2 generator has been completed and is expected to begin generating power later this year. Both have an installed capacity of 1.06 million kilowatts.

In this sense, the two generators at Tianwan will raise the installed capacity by 2.12 million kilowatts in the east China area, which boasts the fastest economic growth in the country.

When the two generators go into commercial operation, they are expected to boost China's nuclear power capacity by 30 percent from the current 7 million kilowatts to more than 9.1 million kilowatts, said a CNNC statement.

The construction of Tianwan Nuclear Power Station began in 1999, costing 26.5 billion yuan (3.3 billion U.S. dollars). The two generators feature Russian pressurized-water technology.

The connection of the No.1 generator to the power grid demonstrated the strategic partnership between China and Russia, said Sergei Razov, Russia's ambassador to China.

The advanced technology is said to be more secure than most pressurized-water facilities.

In additional to traditional energy resources, the Chinese government is relying more on nuclear power to cope with the rising energy demand of its booming economy.

In its 11th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development from 2006 to 2010, the Chinese government opted for a "positive" nuclear power development strategy. In a longer plan, nuclear capacity will reach 40 million kilowatts by 2020, or four percent of the total national capacity.

Excluding the two in Tianwan, China has nine nuclear generators in commercial operation with a total capacity of 7 million kilowatts, but the potential for growth is attracting international firms such as U.S.-based Westinghouse, France's Areva and Russia's AtomStroyExport (ASE).

Razov said that the two new generators are a sound basis for Russia to participate in more projects in China.

The No.3 and No.4 generators at Tianwan are still out to tender as part of the second phase of the station.

Safety is the chief principle for Tianwan Nuclear Power Station, said an official with the CNNC.

Source: Xinhua