South China's Guangdong Province is planning to spend nearly 74 billion yuan (US$9.45 billion) building three major nuclear power stations by 2010.

The size of the investment will set a precedent for spending on power-generation, surpassing outlays on traditional coal-fired and hydroelectric power plants, Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.

During the 11th Five-year Plan (2006-10), Guangdong will focus on developing the second phase of the Ling'ao Nuclear Power Station, the first phase of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station and the first phase of Taishan Nuclear Power Station, said Chen Shanru, director of the Development and Reform Commission of Guangdong Province.

By 2020, the installed capacity of all nuclear power stations in Guangdong is expected to reach 24 million kilowatts, accounting for 60 per cent of the country's total nuclear power output.

Of the country's current installed capacity of 8.7 million kilowatts, nearly 4 million kilowatts are generated in Guangdong.

The project is part of a larger effort to restructure the province's power-supply. The project's goal is to develop more clean energy to fuel Guangdong's fast-growing economy, Chen was quoted as saying.

The province, which is home to the country's largest economy, lacks the energy resources necessary to develop traditional power stations. Guangdong imports most of its coal and petroleum from other parts of the country or from abroad.

Construction of the second phase of Ling'ao Nuclear Power Station in Shenzhen started at the end of last year.

It was the country's only nuclear power station project between 2001 and 2005. Its two 1-million-kilowatt power generators will start operating in 2010 and 2011.

Construction of the first phase of the Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station will start early next year.

The time frame for the Taishan Nuclear Power Station has not been decided yet.

Both the Yangjiang and Taishan plants are located in West Guangdong.

Chen said the province had chosen 10 sites for new nuclear power stations, and the feasibility studies have been going smoothly.

Two projects, located in Zhaoqing and Yunfu, are expected to take priority among the 10, according to the Xinhua News Agency report.