Electricity De France (EDF), the world's leading nuclear power conglomerate, yesterday praised the Chinese Government's decision to increase the proportion of the localized technology and design in the construction of new nuclear power generators in the country.

"China should dominate the whole process of designing, constructing, operating and managing its nuclear power plants,'' said Herve Machenaud, president of EDF Asia-Pacific, yesterday during a press conference.

"The Chinese Government's plan is in line with our successful experience in France. It is exactly what we are always encouraging China to do.''

Machenaud's comment just came a few weeks before the government is to invite foreign companies to bid on the construction of four new nuclear power generators. It is the first time in the past six years for China to give the green light to new nuclear plants in an attempt to meet the country's demand for electricity.

China imported three of its four existing power plants from foreign countries -- France, Canada and Russia. The second-phase of the Qinshan nuclear power plant in East China's Zhejiang Province is the only one with generators designed in China.

Government officials and experts argue that new nuclear plants should use key technologies and designs developed by Chinese so that the nation can have a strong say in procurement, operation and management of the plants.

"The design, construction and operation should be uniform. If China totally relies on a variety of contractors, it can never have an independent nuclear power industry,'' said Machenaud.

Although he declined to comment whether yesterday's conference was a promotion campaign for the upcoming bidding, Machenaud did say that "China's strategy (to provide its own designs) will bring co-operation opportunities for EDF.''

EDF has been actively engaged in China's nuclear power business since 1984. It has provided technology , construction management, and personnel training for China's Dayawan Bay, Ling'Ao and Qinshan nuclear power projects.

In late November, the company sent a large delegation to the second-phase project of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant to discuss future business opportunities.

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