The reactor pressure vessel (RPV) has been lifted into place for Unit 1 of the Lianjiang nuclear power station under construction in Guangdong province, southern China, the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) said.
The move marks the beginning of the nuclear island equipment installation phase at the plant, the CNEA said.
Lianjiang-1 is the first of two CAP1000 pressurised water reactor (PWR) units planned as the initial phase of the station, which will eventually house six such reactors.
The CAP1000 is China’s indigenous version of the Westinghouse AP1000 pressurised water reactor nuclear plant.
Construction of Lianjiang-1 began in September 2023.
The RPV is one of the largest reactor components at a nuclear plant containing the nuclear reactor coolant, core shroud, and the reactor core and fuel. According to the CNEA, the CAP100 RPV weighs about 270 tonnes.
China currently has nine CAP1000 units under construction including two at the Haiyang, two at the Sanmen, two at the Lianjiang, two at the Xudapu (Xudabao), and one at the Lufeng nuclear power stations.
According to earlier reports, four further CAP1000 reactor units are planned for the second phase of the Lianjiang project, but no additional details have been disclosed.
