The loading of all 121 nuclear fuel assemblies was completed on 12 May unit 2 of China’s Changjiang NPP in Hainan province. Unit 2, a 650MWe CNP-600 pressurized water reactor, is expected to begin operating later this year. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said fuel loading operations began on 10 May and took 51 hours to complete.
The loading of all 121 nuclear fuel assemblies was completed on 12 May unit 2 of China’s Changjiang NPP in Hainan province. Unit 2, a 650MWe CNP-600 pressurized water reactor, is expected to begin operating later this year. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said fuel loading operations began on 10 May and took 51 hours to complete.
Initial approval for the Changjiang plant’s construction was granted by China’s National Developmental and Reform Commission in July 2008. Early site works began in December 2008. First concrete was poured for unit 1 in April 2010 and for unit 2 the following November. Changjiang 1 achieved first criticality on 12 October 2015 and entered commercial operation in December.
The plantis being built as a joint venture between CNNC and China Huaneng Group, with shares split 51% and 49%, respectively. The NPP will eventually comprise four units, with units 3 and 4 housing either CNP-650 or ACP-600 reactors. Construction of both those units is scheduled to begin by 2018.