China has broken ground at its first aircraft engine assembly and testing centre in Shanghai, in a bid to develop a domestic aviation engine industry by 2020.

The 8 million m² centre, being built with an investment of CNY8bn ($1.27bn), will have six major areas for assembly, maintenance, experimentation, engine-making, public relations and administration.

The first phase of the centre will be completed in 2015, while the second phase of its construction will be finished in 2020.

After completion the centre is expected to be a hub for testing spare parts and maintaining the overall performance of indigenous aircraft engines.

Commercial Aircraft Engine assistant manager, Kang Ziyue, told Shanghai Daily: "The company will establish China’s first assembly line for aircraft engines in 2014 and have the mass production ability for the engines in 2020."

Kang continued: "After being established, the center for the assembly, experimentation and maintenance of engines will fill a gap in the country’s aircraft engine making industry."

China’s Commercial Aircraft Engine under the Aviation Industry of China (AVIC / ACAE) is developing engines for the first domestic 150-seat jet C919, and is also planning to manufacture engines for more types of the domestic jets.

The country is investing about CNY200bn ($31.7bn) in developing a domestic jumbo jet, with all development phases including design, sourcing and production due to be completed in China.

ACAE said that the initial C919 jets will be powered by CFM International engines.

CFM International, a 50 / 50 joint venture between Safran and General Electric, had previously secured a contract to supply engines for the Chinese-made planes which was initially worth $10bn.

The Chinese engine maker said that the first deliveries of domestic engines for the 150-seat jumbo jets are expected in 2020.

The company is building its research and development base in the Minhang District in China, which has a floor area of 300,000m² to include the company’s headquarters, an R&D centre and airworthiness centre. It is expected to be completed in 2013.

With 150 seats and a flying range of 4,075km, the C919 already has 235 orders from more than ten Chinese companies and its first flight is scheduled in 2014.