Unit 5 of the China's Tianwan nuclear power plant in Jiangsu province achieved criticality on 17 July, Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation (JNPC) announced. The 1080 MWe Chinese-designed ACPR1000 pressurised water reactor is scheduled to be connected to the grid by the end of the year. JNPC said this "marks the completion of the commissioning of the overall system and equipment of the unit, and the unit has officially entered a continuous and controllable nuclear operation state”. Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation is a joint venture between CNNC (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).
Tianwan 5&6 are both ACPR1000 reactors. First concrete was poured for unit 5 in December 2015 and for unit 6 in September 2016. Bothe units are scheduled to begin commercial operation by the end of 2021. China's National Nuclear Safety Administration issued a 40-year operating licence for Tianwan 5 earlier in and fuel loading followed. Tianwan 5 is seen as a Generation II+ design and a precursor to Generation III designs. Tianwan 1-4 are Russian supplied VVER-1000 units. Tianwan 1&2 were put into warranty operation in 2007, and Tianwan 3&4 began commercial operation in 2018. Tianwan 7&8 will be equipped with Generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors. Construction of unit 7 is expected to begin in 2020.
