Containment building completed at second Zhangzhou unit

The Hualong One (HPR1000) reactor design adopts a double-layer containment design, in which the outer containment is divided into three parts: a cylinder structure, a hemispherical dome structure and an external water tank. "This concrete pouring is for the capping of the hemispherical dome structure, with a thickness of 1.5 metres and a maximum span of 28 metres," CNNC said.

The main function of the double-layered containment building is to ensure the integrity and leak tightness of the reactor building, and it plays a key role in the containment of radioactive substances.

CNNC said the concreting of the outer dome "marks the completion of the main structure of unit 2 and lays a solid foundation for the subsequent containment sealing test and cold functional test".

Zhangzhou 2 is the second of four Hualong One units being built at the site. Construction of Zhangzhou 1 began in October 2019, with that of unit 2 starting in September 2020. Both those units are scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of 2025. In September 2022, China's State Council approved the construction of two Hualong One units as Phase II - units 3 and 4 - of the Zhangzhou plant. Construction of unit 3 began in February this year, with that of unit 4 starting in September.

The Zhangzhou project - with a total investment of over CNY100 billion (USD14 billion) - is owned by CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, a joint venture between CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%).