China begins construction of Sanmen NPP unit 4

23 March 2023


First concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of unit 4 at the China’s Sanmen NPP in Zhejiang province. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said this marks the official start of construction of the second of two CAP1000 pressurised water reactors planned as Phase II of the project.

China’s State Council approved construction of two new units at each of the Sanmen NPP (3&4), Haiyang NPP (3&4) and Lufeng NPP (5&6) in 2021. The approvals were for Sanmen units 3 and 4, Haiyang 3 and 4 and units 5 and 6 of the Lufeng plant. Sanmen 1&2 and Haiyang 1&2 (Phase I) are Westinghouse AP1000 units. CNNC signed contracts for the civil construction of the nuclear islands and installation engineering for phase II at Sanmen and Haiyang in April 2022. China Nuclear Industry 22 Construction Company was contracted for the Sanmen Phase II nuclear island, and China Nuclear Industry 24 Construction Company for the Haiyang Phase II nuclear island. China Nuclear Industry Fifth Construction Company (CNI5) will undertake the nuclear island installation work at all four units.

First concrete for Sanmen 3 was poured in June 2022.

CNNC said that once Sanmen 3&4 begin operation, the installed capacity of the Sanmen plant will total 5 GWe providing annual power generation of 40 GWh and reducing CO2 emissions by 30m tonnes a year. More than 10 state-owned enterprises will take part in the construction including Shanghai Electric Group, Harbin Electric Group, Erzhong Group (Deyang) Heavy Equipment Company, Bohai Shipbuilding Industry Company, Dongfang Electric Company and CNNC Sufan Technology Industry Company. In addition, more than 40 private equipment suppliers will be involved. CNNC said the Sanmen Phase II project is a national key energy project.


Image: Workers at the ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of Sanmen unit 4 (courtesy of CNNC)



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