CLP to increase nuclear power imports 10pc
CLP to increase use of Daya Bay electricity by 10pc, easing price pressure but angering greens
The amount of nuclear-generated electricity Hong Kong imports from Daya Bay power station will rise by 10 per cent as part of a deal that could mean good news for consumers.
CLP Power - one of the city's two big electricity providers - says the deal announced yesterday gives the city more leeway to limit price rises amid more stringent emission targets.
But the deal has sparked criticism that the firm has pre-empted an upcoming public consultation over whether the city should increase its use of nuclear energy.
The deal will allow CLP to boost its import ceiling from 70 to 80 per cent of total output from two pressurised-water nuclear reactors in which it has a 25 per cent stake through a subsidiary.
The station, controlled by the China General Nuclear Power Corporation, has supplied the city since 1994. It exports about 10 billion kilowatt hours a year to Hong Kong, accounting for 23 per cent of power consumption.
The extra nuclear intake, which is expected to be cheaper than natural gas, is seen as part of measures adopted by the firm to ease projected tariff rises of up to 40 per cent by 2018 because of the need to hit emission targets.
According to CLP data, per unit nuclear power cost 47 cents in November, compared with 27 cents for coal and 68 cents for gas.
