China Moves Ahead On Commercial Nuclear

When it comes to the future of global energy markets, there's no bigger player than China. As it rapidly industrializes, and creates wider economic opportunities for its citizens, it will demand more and more energy -- and its turning to nuclear energy for answers:

China will take bids next week from a trio of international nuclear technology giants competing for contracts to design and build four reactors in China, state media reported Wednesday.

U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co., Framatome, a unit of France's state-owned Areva SA, and Russia's AtomSTroyExport plan proposals for the four nuclear reactors in eastern China's Zhejiang province and Guangdong province in the south, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The State Nuclear Power Technology Corp., the government-run company in charge of China's nuclear energy program, plans to formally receive the bids next Monday, the report said.

In addition, Shangdon Province is moving ahead with plans for three reactors they hope to have online by 2010.