Nuclear fuel loading began on 25 August at unit 4 of China’s Tianwan NPP in Jiangsu province, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom announced. A total of 163 fuel assemblies will be loaded into the reactor in preparation for its start-up. The Russian-supplied VVER-1000 is scheduled to begin operating by the end of this year.
Units 1 and 2 at Tainwan (Phase 1), AES-91 VVER-1000 units designed by Gidropress, were constructed under a 1992 cooperation agreement between China and Russia. First concrete was poured in 1999, and the units were commissioned in 2007. Units 3 and 4 (Phase 2) are similar units. First concrete for unit 3 was poured in 2012 and for unit 4 in 2013. Unit 3 achieved first criticality in September 2017 and was connected to the grid in December, starting commercial operation in February 2018. Unit 4 is expected to enter commercial operation in March 2019.
In December 2015, China's State Council gave its approval for Tianwan units 5 and 6 which will feature Chinese designed 1080MWe ACPR1000 reactors. First concrete was poured for unit 5 the same month and for unit 6 in September 2016. Both units are scheduled for commercial operation by the end of 2021.
In June, Russia and China signed four agreements, including the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors as units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan NPP. In addition, two VVER-1200 units are to be constructed at the new Xudabao site in Liaoning province. Tianwan NPP is owned and operated by Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation, a joint venture between China National Nuclear Corporation (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).
