The number one generator at the 3.3 billion dollar Russian-built plant is expected to go into commercial operation by the end of the year, the China National Nuclear Corporation said in a statement.

The plant consists of two Russian pressurized water nuclear reactors, with the second 1,060 megawatt reactor set to go on line by the end of the year and begin production next year, it said.

The plant, located in eastern China's Jiangsu province, was previously scheduled for operation in 2005. No reason was given for the delay.

When the two reactors begin operations, China's nuclear power capacity will be boosted by about 30 percent from the current 7,000 megawatts to over 9,100 megawatts, press reports said.

A second pair of reactors in the phase two Tianwan project are still in the tendering process, with Russia also hoping to provide the reactors.

China currently has nine operational nuclear reactors, but has ambitious plans to increase its nuclear capacity to 40,000 megawatts by 2020 as the nation's demand for energy to fuel its booming economy soars.

The central government has approved a series of new power plants, but only a few have been put up for overseas tenders.

Two new plants worth up to 7.0 billion dollars, one to be built in Sanmen in the eastern province of Zhejiang and the other in Yangjiang in southern Guangdong province, are among the projects inviting overseas participation.

The China National Nuclear Corporation is expected to announce the winner of the bidding during the first half of the year, with Westinghouse of the United States and Areva of France seen as the front runners.

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