Fuel loading under way at new Chinese units

Both units received operating licences from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on 24 December, China General Nuclear (CGN) said. The loading of the first fuel assemblies began at each unit later that day following approval from the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA). A total of 177 fuel assemblies will be loaded into each reactor.

"This marks the official entry of the two Hualong One units into the main system nuclear commissioning phase, laying a solid foundation for achieving the goal of grid connection and power generation, and taking a crucial step forward," CGN said. "Initial fuel loading, the process of inserting brand-new nuclear fuel assemblies into the reactor pressure vessel, marks the dividing line between nuclear power engineering with and without nuclear testing, and is one of the most crucial steps before a nuclear power plant is connected to the grid for power generation.

"During the fuel loading preparation phase, the engineering and production teams of the San'ao and Taipingling nuclear power projects collaborated closely and efficiently, ensuring safety and quality while benchmarking against the standards of mature commercial power plants, continuously overcoming challenges to ensure the site met the conditions for high-quality fuel loading. After fuel loading is completed, the project construction team will adhere to the fundamental principles of 'safety first, quality first, and pursuit of excellence', strictly following technical procedures and quality standards to advance subsequent commissioning work, ensuring the unit is put into operation with high quality as planned."

_{San'ao unit 1 (Image: CGN)}

The Taipingling plant will eventually have six Hualong One reactors. The construction of the first and second units began in December 2019 and October 2020, respectively. Hot testing of unit 1 was completed in September 2024. Construction of the second phase of the plant - units 3 and 4 - was approved by China's State Council on 29 December 2023, with construction of unit 3 getting under way in June 2025.

In September 2020, the executive meeting of China's State Council approved the construction of units 1 and 2 as the first phase of the San'ao plant. The NNSA issued a construction permit for the two units on 30 December that year and first concrete for unit 1 was poured the following day. The first concrete for San'ao 2 was poured on 30 December 2021. San'ao 1 and 2 are scheduled to begin supplying electricity in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Cold functional tests were completed at unit 1 in November 2024. A total of six Hualong One units are planned for the site. The construction of two Hualong Ones as units 3 and 4 of the San'ao plant was among plans for 11 reactors approved by the State Council in August 2024.

CGN said it currently has 20 Hualong One units either in operation or under construction, and "the mass production of Hualong One is progressing steadily".