Nuclear capacity set to be increased

Construction of six to eight nuclear reactors will commence in 2018, raising China's total nuclear generating capacity by 6 gigawatts, the National Energy Administration said on Wednesday.

China will also finish two delayed third-generation reactor projects in 2018, including the world's first Westinghouse AP1000 in the Sanmen nuclear power plant in Zhejiang province and the first unit of the Taishan European Pressurized Reactor project designed by Areva in Guangdong province.

An analyst said with no new reactor project approved in the country for more than two years, China might not be able to accomplish its 2020 targets.