BEIJING (Reuters) – China National Nuclear Corp said the first of its Hualong One units, third-generation pressurized water nuclear reactors, began commercial operations on Saturday.
The reactor in Fuqing, in Fujian province in southeastern China, was first connected to the grid on November 27 last year, after more than five years of construction.
“This marks that China has mastered independent third generation nuclear power technology, following the United States, France, Russia and others,” said the company in a statement in its official WeChat account.
The Hualong One units, designed to have a 60-year life span, have an installed capacity of 1.161 million kilowatts each, CNNC said.
The construction of a second Hualong One unit at the Fuqing site is expected to be completed this year.
The CNNC said the project would help China ensure its national energy security and achieve carbon neutrality.
Reporting by Min Zhang and Norihiko Shirouzu; edition by Jane Wardell