7 May (NucNet): Construction of China’s first domestically developed Generation III ‘Hualong One’ nuclear reactor began today at the Fuqing nuclear site in Fujian province with the first pour of nuclear concrete, state-run China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and the state Xinhua news agency said.
The pouring of safety-related concrete for the Fuqing-5 reactor’s nuclear island, sometimes known as first nuclear concrete, is considered the official start of plant construction.
CNNC said China owns “the complete intellectual property rights” of the indigenous Hualong One reactor design and construction of the first unit will help pave the way for China’s nuclear power equipment to “go global”.
The Hualong One is a 1,100 megawatt, three-loop pressurised water reactor. It incorporates elements of CNNC’s ACP1000 and China General Nuclear’s ACPR1000+ reactor designs.
In November 2014, the National Energy Administration approved the use of Hualong One technology to build two reactors at the Fujian site, in southeast China. The State Council approved construction in April 2015.
