Work on 4 nuke plants to start next year

China is expected to start work on four nuclear power stations in 2009, according to a senior government official.

The four power stations are in Haiyang, Rongcheng in eastern Shandong province, Sanmen in eastern Zhejiang province, and Yaogu in southern Guangdong province, Zhang Guobao, vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in an article published in People's Daily yesterday.

"To further boost the development of nuclear power is an important measure for China to restructure its energy mix," said Zhang, who is also head of the National Energy Administration.