Indigenous Hualong One nuclear plant scheduled for grid connection in 2029
The dome of the inner containment has been lifted into place at Unit 6 of the Lufeng nuclear power station in Guangdong province, southern China, the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) reported.
The steel dome – measuring 45 metres in diameter and weighing 275 tonnes – was raised some 60 metres above ground level using a crawler crane and lowered into position on top of the walls of the double containment structure.
At a nuclear reactor, the inner containment is a critical safety component, designed to prevent radioactive leakage into the environment in the event of an emergency. An outer dome will be installed over the inner one.
Lufeng-6 will be the second of two indigenous HPR1000, or Hualong One, pressurised water reactor units planned at the Lufeng site.
Construction of Lufeng-5 began in September 2022 and of Lufeng-6 in August 2023.
Unit 5 is expected to be connected to the grid in 2028 and Unit 6 in 2029.
Four CAP1000 units are also planned for the site. The CAP1000 is China’s domestic version of the Westinghouse AP1000 design.
CNEA said the installation of the dome marks the successful capping of the reactor building. It said project construction has officially shifted from the civil construction stage to the equipment installation stage.
