Construction has begun on China's third AP1000, Sanmen 2 six weeks ahead of schedule. It follows the launch of the country's first EPR project at Taishan in late October and brings the number of reactors under construction in China to 19.
First concrete was poured for Sanmen 2 at 9:38PM on 15 December according to a statement by State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC). The reactor is due to be connected to the grid in June 2014. Sanmen 1 which started construction in April is due to come online in August 2013.
To date, construction had started on nine Chinese reactors in 2009: Hongyanhe 3&4; Yangjiang 2; Fuqing 2; Fangjiashan 2, all the domestic CPR-1000 design; three Westinghouse AP1000s at Sanmen 1&2 and Haiyang 1; and one Areva EPR at Taishan in Guangdong province.
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