Lin Boqiang, director of the Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, said he was very optimistic of China winning the bid.

He said in addition to its cost advantages, CGN has richer experience of building reactors in recent years than its Japanese competitor.

However, Lin pointed out that CGN's experience was mainly in building second-generation reactors, whereas construction of a third-generation reactor, such as ACPR1000+, was still at an early stage.

According to CGN, the first ACPR1000+ unit will be licensed for construction by 2014 in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region as a reference plant for the Sinop project.

Although China lacks experience in nuclear reactor exports, it is considered the world's fastest-growing nuclear power nation.

The country has 16 nuclear power units in operation, and 29 under construction, accounting for 43 percent of the world's total. CGN has 7 units in operation and 15 under construction.

According to China's nuclear power development plan, the country will have more than 80 nuclear power units in operation and under construction by 2020, ranking it second in the world.