The first phase of building two giant reactors for a new nuclear project that will cut carbon emissions and boost the local economy started December 28.

Two 1250 mW reactors will be built in the first phase, at the site in Haiyang, east China's Shandong province, and are scheduled to be put into use in May 2014 and March 2015 respectively.

The entire nuclear project will have eight reactors with a total capacity of 10000 mW.

All of the reactors will use the third-generation AP1000 technology developed by the US-based Westinghouse Co.

Shandong Nuclear Power under the China Power Investment Corporation is in full charge of the project's design, construction, operation and management.

Annual power output is expected to reach 17.5 billion kw when the first two reactors are completed, easing Shandong's power tension and optimizing the province's power structure.

In addition, the large amount of investment on the nuclear project will promote the local economy and drive domestic demand to grow.

When completed, the eight reactors will cut carbon emission by at least 50 million tons, nitrogen oxides by 150,000 tons and dust emission by 120,000 tons annually, compared with the same-scale coal steam-electric plants.