The construction site of the second phase of Zhangzhou nuclear power project in east China's Fujian Province. /CNNC
China on Thursday commenced the construction on the second phase of the Zhangzhou nuclear power project using Hualong One reactors which are domestically developed third-generation reactors, in the city of Zhangzhou, east China's Fujian Province.
The first four Hualong One units have been completed and put into operation, according to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
The Zhangzhou nuclear power project is designed to consist of six nuclear power units, each with a 1-million-kilowatt power generation capacity.
The first phase of the nuclear power project includes two units, with the first unit expected to be put into production this year and the second unit under preparation for cold tests.
Construction starts on the second phase of Zhangzhou nuclear power project in east China's Fujian Province. /CNNC
Hualong One reactors were jointly designed by China General Nuclear Power Group and CNNC.
According to CNNC, each Hualong One nuclear power unit generates more than 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which can meet the annual production demand and domestic electricity demand of 1 million people in moderately developed countries. That is equivalent to reducing the consumption of standard coal by 3.12 million tonnes and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 8.16 million tonnes per year, as well as an equivalent to planting over 70 million trees.
On January 30, 2021, the world's first nuclear power unit using Hualong One technology was officially put into commercial operation in Fuqing, Fujian Province. On May 20, 2021, the K2 unit at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant in Pakistan, which is the first overseas nuclear reactor using Hualong One, started commercial operations.
(With input from Xinhua)