China Daily reports that construction of a nuclear power station began on Monday in Fujian

China Daily reports that construction of a nuclear power station began on Monday in Fujian province. The plant is estimated to cost $7.1 billion for four nuclear reactors. They expect the first nuclear reactor to be put into commercial use by the end of 2012.

As the world’s second-largest energy consumer, China is looking more to nuclear power for a balanced energy mix. According to official figures, nuclear power is now the third largest power source in the country.

The 11 nuclear reactors currently in operation have a combined capacity of about 8,000 MW, and last year generated 62.86 billion kWh, up more than 14 percent on 2006, the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense said.

However, nuclear power still accounts for less than 2 percent of the country’s total output. The NDRC said it wants to boost this figure to 4 percent by 2020.