Hot functional tests have been completed at unit 3 of China’s Xudabao NPP in Liaoning province in preparation for the launch of the VVER-1200 reactor, while at unit 2 the CAP-1000 reactor vessel has been installed.
The Xudabao project was originally expected to comprise six CAP1000 reactors with units 1&2 as the first phase. However, plans changed, and two Russian-supplied VVER-1200 reactors were instead designated for Xudabao 3&4 for which the contracts were signed in 2019, with construction starting in July 2021 and May 2022. The agreements signed in June 2019 included a general contract for the construction of Xudabao units 3&4, as well as a contract for the supply of nuclear fuel. Commissioning of the units is scheduled for 2027 and 2028, respectively.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said completion of the hot tests at the Xudabao 3 laid a solid foundation for the subsequent loading of nuclear fuel, grid connection and power generation.
Hot tests include increasing the temperature of the reactor cooling system and conducting comprehensive tests to ensure proper operation of cooling circuits and safety systems. The tests simulate the thermal operating conditions of a power plant and verify that the nuclear unit and conventional equipment and systems meet design requirements prior to fuel-loading.
In December 2025, cold functional tests were carried out to confirm the correct installation and readiness of safety-relevant components and systems at unit 3. The main purpose of these tests, which were carried out for the first time in conjunction with the auxiliary systems of the reactor, was to check the tightness of the primary circuit.
Meanwhile, CNNC stated that the CAP1000 reactor vessel had been installed at unit 2 of the Xudabao plant. The high-strength steel reactor vessel weighing more than 300 tonnes will house the reactor core and all associated components, including the internal elements of the reactor vessel, which support and stabilise the core within the vessel, as well as provide a path for coolant flow and guide the movement of control rods.
In November 2023, the Ministry of Ecology & Environment announced that the National Nuclear Safety Administration had decided to issue a construction licence for Xudabao 1&2 with 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors – the Chinese version of the Westinghouse AP1000. Two further CAP1000 reactors are proposed for units 5&6.
The Xudabao NPP is owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Ltd, in which CNNC holds a 70% stake with Datang International Power Generation Company holding 20% and State Development and Investment Corporation owning 10%.
