Two Westinghouse-designed AP1000 reactors under construction at China’s Haiyang in Shandong province are approaching commissioning. On 8 August, unit 1 achieved first criticality and fuel loading began at unit 2, State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) announced. Unit 1 will now undergo a series of low-power physics tests and its turbines will be driven for the first time using nuclear-generated steam. Grid connection work will start shortly and once completed the unit will undergo testing at increasing power levels. The unit is expected to begin operating by year-end.
At unit 2, the loading of fuel assemblies began following approval from the National Nuclear Safety Administration and the Ministry of Ecology & Environment, SNPTC said. Haiyang 2 is expected to start up next year. Westinghouse and its partner the Shaw Group received authorisationin 2007 to construct four AP1000 units in China: two at Sanmen NPP and two at Haiyang. Construction of Sanmen 1 began in April 2009, while first concrete for Sanmen 2 was poured in December 2009. Construction of Haiyang 1 and 2 began in September 2009 and June 2010. Sanmen 1 was the world's first AP1000 to start up, achieving first criticality in June and grid connection on 2 July. Fuel has been loaded into Sanmen 2 which is expected to begin operating by the end of this year.
