China’s Ministry of Ecology & Environment has issued an operation licence for unit 1 of the Zhangzhou NPP in Fujian Province. Dong Bao, Deputy Ecology & Environment Minister and Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), attended the ceremony. Zhangzhou Nuclear Power then began to load 177 fuel assemblies into the core of the Hualong One reactor, marking the start of commissioning.
In September, first concrete was poured for the nuclear island of Zhangzhou unit 4. The plant will eventually house six Hualong One reactors. Two units 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, which began construction in 2019 and 2020, 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. NNSA 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.
In May 2014, the local government gave approval for Phase I of the Zhangzhou plant, comprising two AP1000 units. The National Nuclear Safety Administration gave approval in December 2015 for the AP1000 units and confirmed site selection in October 2016. Construction of Phase I had originally been expected to start in May 2017. However, CNNC subsequently decided to use the HPR1000 (Hualong One) design instead. Two more Hualong One units are planned for Phase II of the plant and a further two proposed for Phase III.
