China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) said on 14 April that it expects to start construction of its first Hualong Two, an advanced model of its third-generation power reactor, by 2024, Reuters reported. Construction of the Hualong Two will take four years to build compared with the average five years it takes for Hualong One units, Cao Shudong, CNNC vice general manager, told a nuclear forum in Beijing. Construction costs will drop by about a quarter to CNY13,000 ($1,990) per kilowatt (kW), from CNY17,000 per kW with the Hualong One design, he said. Cao told Reuters the Hualong Two would be simplified compared with the Hualong One but that this would not compromise safety, and that the basic technology would remain the same. Cao did not specify the capacity the Hualong Two.

The Hualong One is a third-generation pressurised water reactor developed and designed by CNNC based on more than 30 years of nuclear power research, design, manufacturing, construction and operation experience, the company said. It has a design life of 60 years and a 177 assembly core design with an 18-month refuelling cycle. The power plant's utilisation rate is as high as 90%. CNNC said its active and passive safety systems, double-layer containment and other technologies meet the highest international safety standards.

China’s first Hualong One reactor at unit 5 of the Fuqing NPP in Fujian Province began commercial operation in January. Nine more are under construction in China or planned. CNNC is building another unit (Fuqing 6) in Fujian Province, scheduled for start up in 2021. CNNC is also constructing one unit (the first of two) at Taipingling in Guangdong and two at Zhangzhou in Fujian province. China General Nuclear is building two at its Fangchenggang site in Guangxi province. First concrete was poured in March for unit 3 at China Huaneng’s Changjiang NPP in Hainan province after the National Nuclear Safety Administration issued a construction licence for Changjiang 3&4 (phase II) – both Hualong One units. In addition, two Hualong One units are under construction at Karachi in Pakistan, while CGN proposes to use a UK version of the Hualong One at the planned Bradwell site in the UK.