First concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of unit 4 at China’s Zhangzhou NPP in Fujian province, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has announced. The plant will eventually house six Hualong One reactors.
Two Hualong One reactors are already under construction at the site (1&2) as phase one of the project. China’s Ministry of Ecology & Environment issued construction licences for Zhangzhou 1&2 in 2019 to CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, the owner of the Zhangzhou NPP, which was established in 2011. It is owned by CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%). The licences are valid for 10 years. Units 1&2 are scheduled to begin commercial operation in 2024 and 2025. First concrete was poured for unit 3 in February – the first of two Hualong One units planned as the second phase of the plant. Two more Hualong One units are planned for the third phase.
In 2014, the local government had approved Zhangzhou phase one, which was then expected to comprise two Westinghouse AP1000 units. The National Nuclear Safety Administration gave its approval in 2015 and confirmed site selection in 2016. Construction had originally been expected to start in 2017. However, CNNC subsequently decided to use the HPR1000 (Hualong One) Chinese design instead. Construction of Zhangzhou 1 began in October 2019 followed by unit 2 in September 2020. The units are scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2024 and 2025.
“The Zhangzhou nuclear power plant is the starting point for the massive construction of Hualong One power units,” CNNC said. “Currently, construction has begun on four units, where safety and quality are under good control. The first unit is expected to be operational and begin generating electricity in 2024; the second unit is moving to the appropriate work before cold testing; construction began on the third block on 22 February of this year; and preliminary work on the fifth and sixth blocks is progressing in the appropriate order.”
Researched and written by Judith Perera
