The country's first nuclear power project backed by private investment has entered full-scale construction in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The major step was marked on Tuesday by the first concrete pour for Unit 4's nuclear island. The unit uses China's home grown third-generation Hualong One tech.

Once all six units are up and running, the plant is expected to pump out over 54 billion kWh of electricity a year, slashing nearly 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.