China caps first 3G nuclear plant

Just hours ago, capping was completed on a new nuclear power plant in Sanmen, a town in Zhejiang Province, east China. It marks a key step in building China's first third-generation nuclear power plant.

The reactor and the steam generator are already sitting inside, waiting to be installed. The cutting-edge Sanmen plant is using AP one thousand technology designed by the Westinghouse Electric Company in the US. This means the plant can function without electricity for 3 days.

It’s the largest joint energy project between the two countries. The plant will start generating power next year, and is expected to supply 15 percent of Zhejiang province’s electricity by 2015.

It’s part of China’s overall plan to increase the proportion of nuclear power to 4 percent by 2020, double the current level.