On 1 January, unit 6 at China’s Fuqing nuclear power plant in Fujian Province, a 1161MWe Hualong One (HPR1000) reactor, was connected the grid, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced. Two Hualong One units began commercial operation in 2021 - Fuqing 5 and unit 2 of Pakistan's Karachi nuclear power plant.
China's State Council approved construction of Fuqing 5&6 in 2015 and first concrete for Fuqing 5 was poured the same year followed by Fuqing 6 in December 2015. Fuqing 5 was connected to the grid in November 2020 and began commercial operation in January 2021.
Meanwhile, on 28 December 2021, CNNC said first concrete was poured for unit 4 of the Changjiang in Hainan province – the second of two Hualong One units being built as phase two of the NPP. First concrete was poured for Changjiang 3 in March 2021. The two units are expected to begin commercial operation in 2026.
Two demonstration Hualong One units are also under construction at China General Nuclear's Fangchenggang plant in the Guangxi Autonomous Region are expected to start up in 2022. Hualong One units are also under construction at Zhangzhou in Fujian, Taipingling in Guangdong, and San'ao in Zhejiang.
Outside of China, there are two Hualong reactors at the Karachi nuclear power plant in Pakistan. Karachi 2, started operating in May 2021 and Karachi 3 recently completed fuel loading and is expected to start commercial operation in March 2022.
Fuqing 6 is the third Hualong One reactor to start operation (Photo: CNNC)
