Plant set to become first of its type to go commercial
The Fuqing-5 Hualong One nuclear power plant in Fujian province, southeastern China, was connected to the national grid for the first time at 00:41 local time today, a statement by the China National Nuclear Corporation said.
Last month, Fuqing-5 became the first ever reactor unit of the Chinese domestic Hualong One design to achieve first criticality.
CNNC said all technical indicators of the unit met design requirements. This has paved the way for subsequent commercial operation, expected before the end of the year, according to earlier reports.
Fuqing-5, construction of which began in May 2015, is the first of two Hualong One units being built at the site. Construction of its sister unit, Fuqing-6, began in December 2015.
The Hualong One, or HPR1000, is a three-loop pressurised water reactor. It incorporates elements of CNNC’s ACP1000 and China General Nuclear’s ACPR1000+ reactor designs.
According to International Atomic Energy Agency statistics there are seven Hualong One units under construction in China, including Fuqing-5 and -6.
CNNC began construction of the first of two Hualong One units at Taipingling in Guangdong province, southern China, in December 2019. CNNC is constructing two units at Zhangzhou in Fujian province, eastern China, while China General Nuclear (CGN) is building two at Fangchenggang in Guangxi province in the south of the country.
There are two Hualong One units under construction at Kanupp in Pakistan. These are the first of their type being built outside China.
