Nuclear island components arrive at Tianwan site

The components were all produced at the Atommash production site in Volgodonsk in southern Russia and travelled thousands of miles - including two months at sea - to the end location on the Chinese coast.

The parts left Russia on 12 June and arrived at Yingkou Port in China after 62 days of ocean voyage for transshipment to the construction site. The shipment was transported to the Tianwan site's wharf by two deep-deck ships, arriving on 19 and 21 August.

"On the day of arrival, the Tianwan Project Department organised all participating units to work together efficiently and successfully completed a series of tasks such as unloading and hoisting, short-distance transportation, equipment self-unloading, and temporary storage," China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) subsidiary China Nuclear Power Engineering Company Ltd said.

Last year the reactor vessel and four steam generators for Tianwan unit 7 were shipped, as well as two of the four steam generators for unit 8.

"The comprehensive entry of the main equipment of unit 8, such as steam generators, pressure vessels, and stabilisers, laid a solid foundation for the construction of the key path of the installation of the main equipment of unit 8, marking another solid step forward in the construction of Tianwan units 7 and 8," it added.

The Tianwan nuclear power plant is owned and operated by Jiangsu Nuclear Power Company, a joint venture between CNNC (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).

In June 2018, Russia and China signed four agreements, including for the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors as units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan plant. Construction of unit 7 began in May 2021, with that of unit 8 starting in February 2022. The units are scheduled to be commissioned in 2026-2027.