Construction starts on third Yangjiang unit

17 November 2010

The first concrete has been poured for unit 3 of the Yangjiang nuclear power plant in Guangdong province, China. Meanwhile, contracts have been signed for the supply of components for other CPR-1000 reactors under construction in the country. 

 

China Guangdong Nuclear Power Co (CGNPC) announced that a ceremony, attended by numerous officials, was held on 15 November to mark the official start of construction of the 1080 MWe pressurized water reactor. The unit becomes the 24th reactor currently under construction in China.

 

Yangjiang 3 first concrete (CGNPC)
The pouring of first concrete at Yangjiang unit 3 marks the official start of the reactor's construction (Image: CGNPC)

  

At a meeting of China's National Nuclear Safety Administration Committee of Experts in Beijing on 10 November, a decision was made to approve the issuance of construction permits for Yangjiang units 3 and 4. Two days later, CGNPC was officially presented with the construction permits.

 

Yangjiang unit 3 is scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2015, while construction of unit 4 should start in early 2011, with the reactor set to begin operating in 2016.

 

The Yangjiang plant will eventually host six domestically engineered CPR-1000 reactors. Development of six units at Yangjiang was approved in 2004, with the CPR-1000 reactor design later confirmed as the technology choice. The total investment in Yangjiang's six reactors is to be 69.5 billion reminbi ($10.1 billion). Construction of the first of two units started in December 2008 for commercial operation in 2013. Units 5 and 6 of the plant are scheduled to be completed by 2017.

 

According to Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, the Yangjiang plant will save 16 million tonnes of coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 36 million tonnes, the People's Daily reported.

 

In July, Hong Kong-based power utility China Light and Power (CLP) agreed to take a 17% stake in Yangjiang - the equivalent of one reactor.

 

CPR-1000 component contracts 

 

Meanwhile, contracts have been signed for the supply of components for the first two CPR-1000 reactors under construction at CGNPC's Fangchenggang nuclear power plant in China's autonomous Guangxi province.

 

Mitsubishi Electric Corp, through an order won jointly with its consortium partner China Techenergy Corp (CTEC), is to supply the digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems for use in the two units. Under the contract, the equipment will be delivered to Fangchenggang Units 1 and 2 beginning in 2012. Both reactors are scheduled to begin operating in 2015.

 

The digital I&C system comprises a main control board for controlling plant operation, non-safety control cabinets, safety protection cabinets and related software equipped in each cabinet.

 

In July 2007 the company received an order for six digital I&C systems for CPR1000-type units from China Nuclear Power Engineering Corp (CNPEC), an engineering subsidiary of CGNPC. This was followed in September 2009 by another contract worth some ¥10 billion ($110 million) to supply digital I&C systems for the first two units at the Yangjiang plant.

 

Canadian valve manufacturer Velan has announced that it has also been awarded several contracts, worth a total of some $61 million, to supply valves for new Chinese power reactors.

 

The company is to supply nuclear-class valves for Yangjiang units 3 to 6, as well as units 1 and 2 of the Fangchenggang plant. These valves include electric and pneumatic actuators that will be used within the nuclear island.

 

In addition, Velan is to supply electric-operated globe valves, bellow globe valves, check valves and instrument valves for use in units 1 and 2 of the Taishan plant in Guangdong province, both Areva EPRs.

 

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News