China National Nuclear Power (CNNP), a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), announced the start of construction of unit 3 of the Xudabao NPP in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 1 August. Construction of Xudabao 3 in Liaoning province officially began on 28 July with the pouring of the first concrete for the nuclear reactor island. It is one of four VVER-1200 reactors being built in China by Rosatom in China under a 2018 agreement. CNNP noted that, with pouring of the first concrete, it now has six reactors under construction with an installed capacity of 6.258GWe.
In June 2018, Russia and China signed four agreements for the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors as units 7&8 at the Tianwan NPP in Jiangsu province and two more to be built as units 3&4 at the new Xudabao NPP site in Huludao, Liaoning province. Further agreements signed in June 2019 included a general contract for the construction Xudabao 3&4, as well as a contract for the supply of nuclear fuel. Rosatom will design the nuclear island and supply key equipment, as well as provide installation supervision and commissioning services for the equipment. Turbine generators for the plants will be supplied by China. The power units are expected to be commissioned in 2027-2028. In February, Russia’s Atommash plant announced the start of production of the main components for Xudabao 3. The enterprise will manufacture and supply two VVER-1200 reactors, two sets of steam generators, reactor cooling pumps, a main circulation pipeline and two compressors.
The CNY110 billion ($17bn) Xudabao NPP project originally envisioned the construction of six Chinese-designed CAP1000 reactors, with the first and second units to be built in the first phase. Site preparation began in November 2010. The National Development and Reform Commission of China approved the project in January 2011. Although China's National Nuclear Safety Administration approved the site selection for units 1&2 in April 2014, construction of these units has not yet begun. Construction of unit 4 is expected to begin next year.
Xudabao NPP is owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Ltd, a joint venture of CNNC (70%), Datang International Power Generation Company (20%) and the State Development and Investment Corporation of China (10%).
