The reactor pressure vessel has been installed at Unit 1 of the Zhangzhou nuclear power station under construction in Fujian province, southeastern China, China National Nuclear Corporation announced.

The state-owned corporation said on its website that the RPV, weighing more than 300 tonnes, was hoisted into place in an operation lasting nine hours.

The main nuclear island equipment including the RPV and steam generators are now in place at Zhangzhou-1, a prerequisite for the subsequent dome hoisting and main pipeline welding, CNNC said. It said the inner dome of the unit’s containment building is scheduled to be hoisted at the end of this month.