The reactor pressure vessel has been installed at unit 6 of China’s Lufeng NPP in Guangdong province. It is the second of two HPR1000 (Hualong One) units under construction at the site, where four CAP1000 units are also planned. The installation marked the official start of installation of the first major equipment of the nuclear island, according to China General Nuclear (CGN).
The proposed construction of the four CAP1000 reactors 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.
However, in April 2022 the State Council approved construction of two Hualong One units at Lufeng as units 5&6. First concrete for Lufeng 5 was poured the following September and for Lufeng 6 in August 2023. The inner containment domes were installed on unit 5 in April 2024, and unit 6 in July 2025. In October 2025, CGN installed the outer containment dome at Lufeng unit 5. The two units are expected to be connected to the grid in 2028 and 2029.
According to CGN, once all six units are operational, the Lufeng power plant will generate about 52 TWh a year, which will reduce coal consumption by 16m tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by more than 42m tonnes.
