Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 12, On August 10, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced the successful pouring of the first safety-related concrete for the nuclear island of Unit 1 at the Jinqimen Nuclear Power Plant, located in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. This marks a significant milestone as the first of six planned Hualong One units for the plant officially enters the construction phase.

The pouring ceremony for Unit 1 signifies the plant's progress, with the construction of two 1200 MWe Hualong One reactors forming Phase I of the Jinqimen plant. The State Council of China approved the project on December 29, 2023, and a ground-breaking ceremony followed in February 2024. On August 5, China’s National Nuclear Safety Administration issued the necessary construction license for both Unit 1 and Unit 2, enabling the pouring of the first concrete for the reactor's foundation.

The Jinqimen plant is set to house six Hualong One units, with CNNC Zhejiang Energy Co Ltd responsible for the project’s investment, construction, and operational management. The China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Corporation, another CNNC subsidiary, is tasked with building the nuclear island, conventional island, and key facilities.

Once fully operational, the Jinqimen plant will have a total installed capacity of about 7.2 GWe, generating approximately 55 TWh of electricity annually, which is expected to cover roughly half of Ningbo’s total electricity consumption in 2024. CNNC estimates that the plant will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 45 million tonnes.

Following the pouring of the first concrete at Jinqimen Unit 1, CNNC now has 13 nuclear power units under construction, totaling an installed capacity of 15.138 GWe. The Jinqimen plant will become CNNC’s third nuclear power base in Zhejiang Province, contributing significantly to the region's clean energy and carbon reduction efforts.