Site could eventually hold up to six reactor units
Cold hydraulic testing has been completed for Unit 3 of the Xudapu* nuclear power station being built in Liaoning province in northeast China.
The China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) said the operation marks the plant’s transition from the equipment installation to the commissioning phase.
Cold testing verifies that welds, joints, pipes, and components in the primary circuit are able to withstand pressures higher than those during normal operation.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data shows four units are under construction at the Xudapu site.
Xudapu-1 and -2 are of the CAP1000 PWR design, a domestic version of the Westinghouse AP1000 design.
Xudapu-3 and -4 are both of the Russia-supplied VVER-1200 PWR technology.
Construction of Xudapu-3 started in July 2021 and of Xudapu-4 in May 2022. Construction starts at Xudapu-1 and Xudapu-2 followed in November 2023 and July 2024.
CNEA said the Xudapu nuclear station is designed to have six units in total, but did not specify the technology for the fifth and sixth unit.
According to CNEA, Xudapu-3 is scheduled to begin commercial operation in 2027 and Xudapu-4 in 2028.
China has 34 reactor units under construction and 58 in operation. The country’s nuclear fleet provided just about 4.5% of China’s electricity generation in 2024, according to the IAEA.
* Xudapu is also written in English as Xudabao or Xudabu. The IAEA reactor database uses the official ‘Xudapu’ transcription.
