en.Wedoany.com Reported - Before startup, the loading of the first batch of nuclear fuel assemblies into the reactor cores of Unit 2 of the Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong Province and Unit 3 of the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant—both employing the Hualong One (HPR1000) reactor—has been completed.

On April 30, China's National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) issued a 40-year operating license for Unit 2 of the Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong Province.

The initial nuclear fuel loading operation, involving the loading of a total of 177 fuel assemblies into the reactor core, was completed at 11:45 local time on May 3.

China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) stated: "The completion of initial fuel loading for Unit 2 marks the unit's successful transition from the construction phase to the new nuclear commissioning phase, a key step towards achieving the goal of fully completing and putting into operation Phase I of the project."

The Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant will eventually operate six Hualong One reactors, with a total investment exceeding 120 billion yuan (17 billion USD). Units 1 and 2 began construction in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Hot functional tests for Unit 1 were completed in September 2024, and for Unit 2 in July 2025. Unit 1 achieved its first sustained chain reaction (i.e., first criticality) on February 3 this year, was connected to the grid on February 13, and entered commercial operation last month.

CGN stated: "Based on the successful construction and commissioning experience of Unit 1, the project team further optimized construction techniques and management processes, smoothly completed the hot functional tests for Unit 2, and applied a series of digital achievements including digital delivery, digital transformation of spare parts, and exoskeleton robots."

Phase II of the Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant (Units 3 and 4) was approved by the State Council in December 2023, with construction of Unit 3 commencing in June last year.

CGN indicated that once all six units are completed and operational, the annual power generation will exceed 55 billion kilowatt-hours, while reducing standard coal consumption by approximately 16.65 million tons and carbon dioxide emissions by about 50.82 million tons annually.

Fuel Loading at Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant Meanwhile, the loading of 177 fuel assemblies into the reactor core of Unit 3 at the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan Province has also been completed.

The first fuel assembly was loaded into the reactor core on April 30. After 63 hours of operation, the last fuel assembly was positioned at 4:12 local time on May 3.

China Huaneng Group stated that this event "marks a decisive step for the unit towards subsequent nuclear startup and grid connection for power generation."

The first concrete for the nuclear island basemat of Unit 3 was poured in March 2021, and for Unit 4 in December of the same year.

The cold hydrostatic test, used to verify that safety-important components and systems are correctly installed and ready for cold operation conditions, was completed for Unit 3 in April last year. This was followed by hot functional tests, which involved raising the temperature of the reactor coolant system and conducting comprehensive tests to ensure the correct operation of the coolant loop and safety systems.

According to China Huaneng (which holds a 51% stake in the project, with China National Nuclear Corporation CNNC holding the remaining 49%), the total investment for Phase II of the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant (Units 3 and 4) is estimated at 40 billion yuan (6.4 billion USD), with an expected construction period of 60 months. The two Hualong One units are planned to be fully completed and operational by early 2027.

The Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant site currently hosts two operating CNP-600 pressurized water reactors—Changjiang Unit 1 and Changjiang Unit 2—which entered commercial operation in 2015 and 2016, respectively. In 2021, CNNC also began construction of the ACP100 small modular reactor demonstration project at the site. This multi-purpose pressurized water reactor, with an electrical power output of 125 MWe, also known as the Linglong One, can be used for power generation, heat supply, steam supply, or seawater desalination.

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