Work on the first nuclear project of China’s Fourteenth Five Year Plan began on Wednesday in Hainan Province.

The plant, jointly owned by Huaneng Power International and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and costing an estimated 36.8 billion yuan (US$5.6 billion), represents the largest investment in the island province since it became a free port in 2018. The plants are expected to begin operation in 2026.

The plant will have two 1.2 million kilowatts nuclear power units, bringing 18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to Hainan each year, equal to burning 5.5 million tons of coal and reducing emissions by 13 million tons of carbon dioxide.