Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 27, The outer containment dome has been successfully installed at unit 5 of the Lufeng nuclear power plant in Guangdong province, China. This marks the first of two HPR1000 (Hualong One) units currently under construction at the site, which also plans four CAP1000 reactors.

On 18 October, the steel formwork module for the outer dome, measuring 51 metres in diameter, 13 metres in height, and weighing 261.8 tonnes, was lifted using a 2,000-tonne crawler crane equipped with a laser target dynamic guidance system. The module was positioned atop the walls of the double containment structure, with the hoisting process completed in just 94 minutes.

A CGN Lufeng Nuclear Power Company statement said: “This successful installation marked the first time that CGN completed the modular installation of the outer dome steel formwork for the Hualong One reactor, creating crucial conditions for subsequent containment pressure testing and nuclear island installation for unit 5.”

Construction of units 5 and 6 was approved by China’s State Council in April 2022. First concrete for unit 5 was poured on 8 September 2022, and unit 6 on 26 August 2023. The inner containment dome for unit 5 was installed in April 2024, while unit 6 received its inner dome in July 2025. Both units are expected to be connected to the grid in 2028 and 2029, respectively.

The outer dome sits atop the nuclear island and ensures the integrity and leak tightness of the reactor building. It is critical for containing radioactive substances and plays a central role in nuclear safety systems.

At the same site, the construction of four 1,250 MWe CAP1000 reactors (units 1-4) was approved by China’s National Development and Reform Commission in September 2014. Construction of units 1 and 2 received State Council approval on 19 August last year. The first safety-related concrete for unit 1’s nuclear island was poured on 24 February 2025. Approvals for units 3 and 4 remain pending.

The installation of the outer dome at Lufeng unit 5 demonstrates the use of advanced modular construction techniques, including precise lifting and placement systems, to accelerate project schedules and ensure high safety standards. The project reflects ongoing efforts to expand China’s domestic nuclear capacity while applying rigorous containment and safety measures at new reactor sites.

With units 5 and 6 on track for grid connection in the latter half of the decade, and ongoing CAP1000 developments at the same location, Lufeng continues to be a major focus of China’s nuclear power expansion strategy.