The dome was installed on the containment building of China’s Fangchenggang 3 on 23 May. The reactor is the first of two demonstration Hualong One (HPR1000) units being built at the site in the Guangxi Autonomous Region.
China General Nuclear (CGN) used "innovative three-dimensional modelling and other intelligent nuclear power construction technology" to simulate the dome lifting, which allowed it to predict challenges and formulate solutions to ensure the accuracy, safety and success of the dome lifting.
First concrete was poured for the nuclear island of Fangchenggang 3 in December 2015, and for Fangchenggang 4 in 2016. Unit 3 is expected to start up next year followed by unit 4 in 2020. In total, six units are planned for the Fangchenggang site. Fangchenggang 1&2 are domestic CPR-1000s and already in commercial operation and Fangchenggang 5&6 will be Westinghouse AP1000s.
Fangchenggang NPP is 39% owned by Guangxi Investment Group and 61% by CGN.
Other HPR1000s
Construction of two Hualong One or HPR1000 reactors is under way at China National Nuclear Corporation's Fuqing site in Fujian province. The dome was installed at Fuqing 5 in May 2017 and at Fuqing 6 in March 2018. The units are expected to start up in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Two HPR1000 units are also under construction at Pakistan's Karachi nuclear plant, planned for operation in 2021 and 2022. The HPR1000 has also been proposed for Bradwell B in the UK, where it is undergoing Generic Design Assessment.
Photo: Installation of the central arch at Fangchenggang 3 on 23 May (Credit: CGN)
