China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced that loading of 177 fuel assemblies had begun on 6 November at unit 6 of the Fuqing NPP, which is the second of two demonstration Hualong One reactors at the site.
China's State Council approved construction of Fuqing 5&6 in April 2015. First concrete for Fuqing 5 began in May 2015 and for unit 6 the following December. Unit 5 was connected to the grid in November 2020 and entered commercial operation on 30 January 2021. Fuqing 6 is scheduled to begin operations by the end of this year.
CNNC said the fuel loading signalled that the unit had “entered the nuclear commissioning stage of the main system, and has taken an important step towards completion and commissioning”. The Hualong One (also known as HPR1000) has a design life of 60 years and uses active and passive combined safety systems and double-layer containment, “which meets the highest international safety standards and is fully capable of series construction,” CNNC noted.
To date, two Hualong One units have been put into commercial operation, and a total of eight units are under construction and operation at home and abroad, CNNC said. “The safety and quality of construction and operation are well-controlled.” Fuqing 5 has maintained safe and reliable operation since it began commercial operation and has accumulated more than 7TWh of power generation.
Two HPR1000 units are under construction at Pakistan's Karachi NPP (units 2&3) and are planned to enter commercial operation this year and in 2022. Karachi 2 was connected to the grid in March after the completion of commissioning tests and Karachi 3 completed hot functional testing on 4 November, ahead of schedule.
Construction of two demonstration Hualong One units is also under way at China General Nuclear's Fangchenggang plant in the Guangxi Autonomous Region with start up expected in 2022. Meanwhile, CNNC has also started construction of two Hualong One units at the Zhangzhou plant in Fujian province and first of two units at Taipingling in Guangdong.
