Beijing, Jul 13 (IANS): A plan to build a nuclear fuel processing plant in south China's Guangdong province has been cancelled following opposition from locals, authorities said Saturday.

The planned Longwan Industrial Park project, located in Zhishan township in the city of Heshan, has been cancelled, reported Xinhua citing the municipal government of Jiangmen, which administers Heshan, and sources from the China National Nuclear Corporation, builder of the project.

Many local residents expressed opposition to the project after it was made public by the Heshan government July 4, said Wu Yuxiong, mayor of Heshan.

"The Heshan government respects the public's opinion and will not apply for approval for the project," Wu said.

The public's opposition was mainly due to safety worries and environmental concerns.

The planned industrial park, with a designed capacity of 1,000 tonnes of uranium in 2020, was to feature facilities for uranium conversion, enrichment and manufacturing of nuclear fuel equipment, involving a total investment of 37 billion yuan ($6 billion).