Construction work on Taiwan's controversial Fourth Nuclear Power Plant (
The fourth nuclear power plant in Taipei County was 36 percent completed by the end of February, while a reactor from US company General Electric Co -- made for the first of the plant's two units -- is due to arrive next Thursday, according to the Chinese-language China Times, quoting officials of Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電).
The first unit of the plant will be completed by July 2006, while the second unit will be finished a year later, the officials said.
Work on the US$5.4 billion fourth nuclear power plant had already begun when the government announced in October 2000 that it was axing the project because of environmental concerns.
The decision incurred the wrath of opposition parties and industry, which regarded the plant as vital to Taiwan's economic development.
Months of political bickering followed and prompted moves that could have ousted President Chen from office.
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