The initial concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of unit 2 at the Xudabao nuclear power plant in China’s Liaoning Province, marking the official start of construction for the unit.
Approval and Licensing Secured for Units 1 & 2
The construction of units 1 and 2 at the Xudabao (also known as Xudapu) plant received approval from China’s State Council on July 31st of last year.
On November 6th, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that the National Nuclear Safety Administration had granted a construction license for Xudabao units 1 and 2, both of which will utilize 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors – the Chinese adaptation of the Westinghouse AP1000 design.
Construction Begins on Unit 1
A ceremony was held on November 15th at the Xudabao site near Xingcheng City, Huludao, to celebrate the commencement of construction for unit 1.
The Xudabao project was originally planned to consist of six CAP1000 reactors, with units 1 and 2 comprising the first phase. Site preparation began in November 2010, and the National Development and Reform Commission approved the project in January 2011.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) noted that the total investment for units 1 and 2 exceeds CNY48 billion (USD6.6 billion).
However, plans were modified, leading to the construction of two Russian-supplied VVER-1200 reactors as Xudabao units 3 and 4, which began in July 2021 and May 2022, respectively.
Comprehensive Construction of Four Units Underway
“The Xudabao nuclear power plant has officially entered a new phase of comprehensive construction involving two reactor models and four units,” announced CNNC.
“Currently, the construction of all four units at the Xudabao nuclear power project is progressing smoothly.
Units 1 and 2 are scheduled to be commissioned and begin generating electricity in 2028 and 2029, respectively. Units 3 and 4 have both entered the equipment installation phase, with all major milestones achieved on schedule and with high quality.
They are projected to be operational and generating electricity in 2027 and 2028, respectively.”
Project Ownership and Future Expansion
The Xudabao plant is owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Ltd, with CNNC holding a 70% stake, Datang International Power Generation Co. owning 20%, and State Development and Investment Corporation holding 10%.
China Nuclear Power Engineering Company Ltd, a subsidiary of CNNC, serves as the general contractor.
Two additional CAP1000 reactors are proposed for units 5 and 6 at the Xudabao plant.
Clean Energy Contribution and Environmental Impact
Upon completion of all six units, the plant is expected to provide over 54 TWh of clean electricity annually, saving approximately 19.2 million tons of coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 56.7 million tons each year, according to CNNC.
With the construction of Xudabao 2 underway, CNNC now has 12 reactors under construction in China, with a combined generating capacity of 13.9 GWe.