A 950-tonne CA01 supermodule has been installed at unit 2 of China’s Lufeng NPP in Guangdong province, China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) reported. The concrete and steel CA01 module, measuring more than 26 metres in length, 29 metres in width and 23 metres in height, comprises 47 submodules.
The proposed construction of the four CAP1000 reactors for units 1-4 of the Lufeng plant was approved by China’s National Development & Reform Commission in September 2014, but construction of units 1&2 did not receive State Council approval until August 2024, with approval for units 3&4 still pending.
Meanwhile, in April 2022, the State Council approved the construction of two Hualong One reactors at the Lufeng site as units 5&6. First concrete for unit 5 was poured in September 2022 and for unit 6 in August 2023. The reactor vessel for unit 6 was installed in February with commissioning of of units 5&6 expected in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
According to CGN, the installation of the CA01 module at unit 2 marks the transition of the plant construction to a new stage and lays a solid foundation for the subsequent construction of the nuclear island structures and installation of equipment.
The CAP1000 – China’s version of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor – uses modular construction technologies that enables the production of large structural modules in factories with subsequent installation on site. The CA01 supermodule, because of its size, cannot be transported by road or rail and was manufactured directly on site. The CA01 module for unit 1 was installed in September 2025.
“Building on the successful experience of Unit №1, the assembly phase of unit 2 module CA01 succeeded in further expanding the scope of modular construction, ensuring the pre-assembly and integration of more elements on the ground and increasing the overall integrity of the assembly compared with unit 1,” CGN noted.
According to CGN, once all six units are operational, the NPP will generate about 52 TWh of electricity, which will reduce coal consumption by almost 16m tonnes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 42m tonnes.
