CHINA and Thailand will jointly build two nuclear power reactors in southwestern China that will incorporate Chinese-developed third-generation technology known as Hualong-1, Xinhua reported late Thursday.

    The Chinese Government is embarking on an ambitious plan to export locally developed technology as well as its equipment manufacturing capacity potentially worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

    China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and Thailand’s Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Co. Ltd., or RATCH, will set up a joint venture to build and operate the second phase of a nuclear power plant in Fangchenggang, in Guangxi region, Xinhua said.

    RATCH, an independent power producer with the state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand as its majority stakeholder, said Wednesday that it had entered an equity investment deal with CGN and China’s Guangxi Investment Group Co.

    The JV will invest in two reactors each rated at 1,180 megawatts, with commercial operation slated for 2021, RATCH said.

    Fangchenggang, a port city near Vietnam, is the second site at which China plans to build Hualong-1 reactors under a pilot program. Construction of the first one started in May in Fujian Province on the southeastern coast.

    Just a week ago, China’s Cabinet gave the green light to build Hualong reactors at Fangchenggang. Hualong was jointly designed by CGN and China National Nuclear Corp.

    The China-Thailand alliance at Fangchenggang may pave the way for China to export Hualong to member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Xinhua said.(SD-Agencies)