China’s National Nuclear Safety Administration has issued a construction licence for units 1&2 of the Jinqimen NPP in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. This clears the way for first concrete to be poured for the foundation of unit 1.
“We believe that the submitted application documents comply with relevant national laws and nuclear safety regulations, and that the design principles and nuclear safety-related activities of units 1&2 of the Zhejiang Jinqimen NPP meet the requirements of China’s nuclear safety regulations,” the NNSA said.
The construction of two 1,200 MWe Hualong One reactors as Phase I of the Jinqimen plant was approved by China’s State Council in December 2023. A ground-breaking ceremony was held February 2024 marked the start of preparatory work. The new plant will eventually house six Hualong One units.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) subsidiary CNNC Zhejiang Energy Co Ltd will be responsible for project investment, construction and operations management
“Our inspection team conducted an on-site inspection of the nuclear island preparations for unit 1,” NNSA told CNNC Zhejiang Energy. “We concluded that all on-site preparations are in place for the pouring of the first concrete for the nuclear island foundation.”
With all six units operating, the total installed capacity of the Jinqimen plant will be about 7.2 GWe, and the annual grid-connected electricity will be some 55 TWh, which according to CNNC is equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 50m tonnes.
