China General Nuclear (CGN) announced that first criticality had been achieved at unit 2 of the Taipingling NPP in Huizhou, Guangdong province. This is the second of six Hualong One (HPR1000) reactors planned for the site.
In April, China’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) issued a 40-year operating licence for unit 2 and fuel loading, which included the installation of a total of 177 fuel assemblies, was completed on in May. CGN said achieving first criticality “lays a solid foundation for subsequent connection to the network and commissioning”.
The Taipingling NPP will eventually operate six reactors with a total investment of more than CNY120bn ($17bn). Construction of units 1&2 (Phase 1) began in 2019 and 2020. Taipingling 1 received an operating licence from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in December 2025 the unit was connected to the grid in February and began commercial operation in March. Construction of Phase 2 (units 3&4) was approved by China’s State Council in December 2023, and construction of unit 3 began in June 2025. Preparatory work for Phase III (units 5&6) is beginning. First concrete for unit 4 was poured in May.
Once all six units are completed and operational, annual electricity generation will exceed 55 TWh, avoiding the consumption of 16.65m tonnes of coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 50.82m tonnes each year.
