Xudapu 4 containment starts to take shape

Wednesday, 1 February 2023

The module - with an inner diameter of 44 metres and an overall height of more than 10 metres - was hoisted into place at 10.36am on 31 January. It features 128 pre-installed through-piece sleeves and 46 tonnes of pre-installed circumferential steel bars. The combined hoisting weight of the module and steel bars totaled almost 457 tonnes.

"The entire hoisting process was safe and quality controlled," CNNC said. "A good start to the new year has created favourable conditions for the construction of the internal structure of the reactor building and the critical path of the inner containment."

  The module is hoisted into the air (left) before being placed on the reactor building foundation (right) (Image: CNNC)

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 in Jiangsu province. In addition, two further VVER-1200 units were to be constructed at the new Xudapu (also known as Xudabao) site in Huludao, Liaoning province.

Agreements signed in June 2019 included a general contract for the construction of Xudapu units 3 and 4, as well as a contract for the supply of nuclear fuel. Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom will design the nuclear island and supply key equipment, as well as provide field supervision, installation supervision, and commissioning services for the supplied equipment. Turbine generators and balance of plant will be supplied by China.

Construction of Xudapu unit 3 began on 28 July 2021, with that of unit 4 starting in May 2022. The units are expected to be commissioned in 2027-2028.

The CNY110 billion (USD17 billion) Xudapu project was originally expected to comprise six Chinese-designed CAP1000 reactors, with units 1 and 2 in the first phase. Site preparation began in November 2010. The National Development and Reform Commission gave its approval for the project in January 2011. China's National Nuclear Safety Administration announced its approval of the site selection for Xudapu units 1 and 2 in April 2014. However, construction of those units has yet to start.

The Xudapu plant is owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Limited, a joint venture between CNNC (70%), Datang International Power Generation Company (20%) and State Development and Investment Corporation (10%).