Unit 4 of the Sanmen nuclear power plant in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, commences construction on March 22. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

Construction of Unit 4 of the Sanmen nuclear power plant in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, started on March 22, according to its operator China National Nuclear Corporation.

This is the first nuclear power unit in China to commence construction this year.

Unit 4, an integral part of the plant's second phase, will have an installed capacity of 1.25 million kilowatts. It construction, which involves a dozen State-owned companies as well as over 40 private companies across China, is expected to last 56 months.

The plant is expected to have an installed capacity of 5 million kilowatts after the second phase, which comprises units 3 and 4, becomes operational. It is expected to generate 40 billion kilowatt hours, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 metric million tons, annually.

The Sanmen nuclear power plant consists of six units, with units 1 and 2 put into operation in 2018. The two units have generated 78.18 billion kilowatt hours so far, CNNC said.