China's largest thermal power station, located in east China's Zhejiang Province, officially became operational Saturday, December 16.
The Beilun Thermal Power Station has an installed capacity of 3 million kilowatts and is able to generate 16.5 billion kwh of electricity annually. The station is China's first thermal power station to be built with a World Bank loan.
The total cost of the plant, which took 20 years to build, was estimated at 17.7 billion yuan (about US$2.1 billion), including US$870 million in foreign investment. Purchase of major facilities at the plant were done through international bidding.
Construction of the power station was said to be in compliance with international practices. The generators at the station had been operating on a trial basis for 168 hours before the official inauguration for commercial use.
The power station will help ease the power strain on the fast-growing economy along China's eastern coast.
(People's Daily 12/16/2000)
