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1. The first of India’s Russian-designed nuclear power reactors has taken a step closer to start-up with the loading of dummy fuel assemblies into the core of Kudankulam 1.

The plant is one of two Russian-supplied 950 MWe VVER pressurised water reactors currently being built by NPCIL at Kudankulam and due to start up later this year. Construction is planned to begin on the next two Kudankulam VVERs by mid-2011.

India’s plans for 20,000 MWe nuclear capacity on line by 2020 and 63,000 MWe by 2032. Construction of ten nuclear reactors will be started over the next five year. Four should start by July, 2010 and two more by mid-2011.

First concrete for the third and fourth Indian-designed pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) to be built at the Kakrapar plant in Gujarat would take place within the next 6-8 weeks, with ground-breaking for two more PHWRs to take place at the Rajasthan plant by the end of May. In addition, the reports noted, two sites had been identified for the construction of four PHWRs at Hissar in Haranya and at Madhya Pradesh. The land for the Hissar site would be acquired within the next 6-8 weeks, Jain is quoted as saying.

2. The first concrete has been poured at the first unit of the Changjiang nuclear power plant on China’s southern island province of Hainan.

The plant will eventually comprise four 650 MWe CNP-600 pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and will be built in two phases. The second phase of the Qinshan nuclear power plant (Units 3 and 4) in Zhejiang province, which also comprises two CNP-600 units, will be used as the reference plant for the first two units at Changjiang.

Site works began in December 2008. The first unit is scheduled to begin operating by the end of 2014, while the second reactor should start up the following year. The total cost of the first two units is put at some 19 billion yuan ($2.8 billion).

3. Previously nextbigfuture reported on Japanese plans for 9 more nuclear reactors by 2020 and additional five from 2020-2030 and two reactors in Finland by 2020.

Vietnam plans to build eight 1000 MW nuclear reactors by 2030

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Brian Wang

Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.

Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.

A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.