CONSTRUCTION began Thursday (Dec 15) on Phase II of the Ling'ao Nuclear Power Plant at Daya Bay.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said in a message that it marks another major step towards designing, building and operating of a nuclear plant by the country on its own.

By 2020, the generating capacity of the country's nuclear plants will total 40 million kilowatts, Wu said.

Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan attended the ground breaking ceremony held at the bay on the day.

Using improved second-generation technology, the project is the third commercial nuclear power plant built by Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co., which has constructed the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant and the first phase of Ling'ao Nuclear Power Plant.

The Ling'ao Nuclear Power Plant is designed to produce 4 million kilowatts of electricity each year.

Construction of the first phase began May 15, 1997 and its two generators have a designed life span of 40 years.

Editor: Wing