3 nuclear projects may get green light this month  

(ECNS) -- Three nuclear projects in China are expected to get government approval this month, the Shanghai-based China Business News said.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planner, has applied to the State Council for restarting the procedure of approving nuclear projects, the newspaper said in an exclusive report, citing anonymous insiders.

Six reactors may get final approval as soon as November, it stated.

Lv Xiulei, an analyst at China Cheng Xin International Credit Rating Co. Ltd., estimated that Hongyan River nuclear project in Liao-ning province, the Shidao Bay nuclear demonstration project in Shandong and the Fuqing nuclear power plant in Fujian province would be given the green light first.

Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, China has suspended approval of nuclear plant construction to revise its safety standards.

However, the country is now pushing ahead to restart and embark on a program of new nuclear plants to change its energy mix amid mounting pressure from air pollution.

Many factors affect the restart, Lv said, two of them include the country's independent nuclear technology and the disunified technology standard.

It is estimated that total investment into the six units would amount to 100 billion to 120 billion yuan ($16 billion- $19 billion), half of which would vein equipment, raising hope for domestic nuclear equipment makers who have suffered a great loss since 2011.

The head of a giant manufacturer said this year would the toughest for them, as former orders are almost delivered. If the country fails to develop new projects next year, they would "run out of food supply", he explained.

There are currently 20 nuclear power reactors in operation across China, with 28 to be under construction by the third quarter this year.