Indigenous Hualong one reactor unit is second at site
Unit 4 of the Fangchenggang nuclear power station in the Guangxi region of southern China has reached first criticality, China General Nuclear (CGN) announced.
CGN said the 1,000 MW plant reached criticality for the first time at 19.08 on 3 April, officially marking the beginning of power operation.
Fangchenggang-4 is a domestically developed HPR1000, or Hualong One, pressurised water reactor unit. Construction began in December 2016. It is the second of two Hualong One units at the site. Twin unit Fangchenggang-3 began commercial operation in March 2023.
The Hualong One incorporates elements of China National Nuclear Corporation’s ACP1000 and CGN’s ACPR1000+ reactor designs.
China has three Hualong One units in commercial operation – two at Fuqing in Fujian province and one at Fangchenggang.
Apart from Fangchenggang-4, China has nine other Hualong One units under construction domestically at four sites – three at Zhangzhou and two each at Changjiang, Taipingling and Sanaocun (also known as Zhejiang Sanao and San’ao).
There are two Hualong One plants in operation outside China, both in Pakistan at the Kanupp nuclear station, also known as Karachi. They began commercial operation in May 2021 and April 2022.
The Fangchenggang nuclear station is a project of Guangxi Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Group, a joint venture between CGN and Guangxi Investment Group.
