First concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of the first commercial Chilong One high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) at the Jiangsu Xuwei Nuclear Heating & Power Plant, according to China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
The Jiangsu Xuwei plant is a pioneering project representing several world firsts;
- World’s first large-scale project coupling nuclear energy with the petrochemical industry;
- World’s first project coupling a pressurised water reactor (PWR) with a HTGR;
- World’s first commercial/industrial use of an HTGR.
The project is invested and controlled by China National Nuclear Power, a subsidiary of CNNC. The plant is designed primarily for industrial heat supply while also generating electricity. It uses a unique combination of two reactor types – the Hualong One (a third-generation PWR) and the Chilong One (a fourth-generation HTGR, co-developed by CNNC and Tsinghua University). The project will include a steam heat exchange station.
The process works by using steam from the Hualong One to heat desalinated water into saturated steam, which is then further heated by steam from the Chilong One to produce high-quality industrial steam at three different parameter levels for the petrochemical park.
The first phase of the project comprises two 1,208 MWe Hualong One units (1&2) and one Chilong One unit (3). Unit 3, now officially under construction, has a rated power of 660 MWe and a design life of 60 years. First concrete was poured in January for the nuclear island of the unit 1 Hualong One. Once Phase I is completed and operational, it is expected to deliver significant environmental and industrial benefits:
- Annual: industrial steam supply of 32.5m tonnes a year;
- Maximum power generation of over 11.5 TWh a year;
- Standard coal savings of 7.26m tonnes a year; and
- CO2 emission reduction of 19.6m tonnes a year.
This project is a major step in China’s transition from primarily nuclear power generation to diversified nuclear energy supply, aiming to provide a low-carbon solution for the large-scale energy needs of the Lianyungang petrochemical base in Jiangsu Province.
A contract for the construction of the conventional islands of the three units was awarded in September 2025 to a consortium formed by China Energy Engineering Jiangsu Electric Power Construction No 3 Company and China National Nuclear Huachen Construction Engineering Company. Under the CNY4.2bn ($622m) contract, Jiangsu Electric Power Construction No 3 Company will build the three conventional island power plants, their ancillary facilities, and the construction and installation of some ‘balance of plant’ components. First concrete was poured in January for the nuclear island of unit 1.
CNNC said the project is planned to be implemented through direct procurement, with specialised nuclear power engineering subsidiary CNNC Energy Technology Company Ltd entrusted with the high-temperature reactor design, equipment and material procurement and delivery, certification support, construction technical support, commissioning support, equipment training, and related project management.
CNNC Energy Technology Company Ltd previously undertook EPC general contracting for the nuclear island and balance of plant for the Shandong Shidaowan High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Nuclear Power Demonstration Project, as well as nuclear island commissioning services. CNNC holds a 46% stake in the company.
