Fuel loading begins at first Changjiang unit

Thursday, 27 August 2015

The loading of fuel has started at unit 1 of the Changjiang nuclear power plant, under construction on China's southern island province of Hainan. The reactor is expected to begin operating later this year.

Fuel loading operations at Changjiang 1 (Image: CNNC)

The first fuel assemblies were loaded into the core of Changjiang 1 on 26 August, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced. Preparatory work and the loading of the first assemblies was overseen by representatives from China's National Nuclear Security Administration.

CNNC said the operation to load a total of 121 fuel assemblies into the 650 MWe CNP-600 pressurized water reactor is expected to take two or three days. The milestone of fuel loading means that the unit has "officially entered the operational phase", the company said.

Initial approval for the Changjiang plant's construction was granted by China's National Developmental and Reform Commission in July 2008. Early site works began in December 2008. Construction of unit 1 began with the pouring of first concrete on 25 April 2010, while that for unit 2 was poured on 21 November 2010. Changjiang 1 is scheduled to begin operating by the end of 2015, with unit 2 set to start up next year.

The plant, near Hoi Mei Tong village in China's Hainan province, is being built as a joint venture between CNNC and China Huaneng Group, with shares split 51% and 49%, respectively. The plant will eventually comprise four units, with units 3 and 4 housing either CNP-650 or ACP-600 reactors. Construction of both those units is scheduled to begin by 2018.

CNNC said the island province of Hainan has been suffering power shortage problems this year, but this situation will be eased when unit 1 begins operating. It noted that when both units 1 and 2 of the Changjiang plant are in operation next year, the plant will account for 30% of Hainan's power generation.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News