Plant set to become first of its type to go commercial Construction of the Fuqing-5 and -6 Hualong One nuclear power plants in southeastern China. Curtesy CNNC. Unit 5 at the Fuqing nuclear power station in Fujian province, southeastern China, has attained a sustained chain reaction, known as criticality, for the first time, China National Nuclear Corporation has announced.

Fuqing-5 is the first pilot project to use China's indigenous Generation III Hualong One technology, also known as HPR1000, and will be the first Hualong One to be commissioned.

CNNC said various commissioning tests will now be carried out at the 1,000-MW plant before it is connected to the electricity grid. Once connected, it will undergo tests at increasing power output levels before entering a full-power assessment period.

Fuqing-5, construction of which began in May 2015, is the first of two Hualong One units being built at the site. Construction of its sister unit, Fuqing-6, began in December 2015.

The Hualong One, or HPR1000, is a three-loop pressurised water reactor. It incorporates elements of CNNC’s ACP1000 and China General Nuclear’s ACPR1000+ reactor designs.

According to International Atomic Energy Agency statistics there are seven Hualong One units under construction in China, including Fuqing-5 and -6.

CNNC began construction of the first of two Hualong One units at Taipingling in Guangdong province, southern China, in December 2019. CNNC is constructing two units at Zhangzhou in Fujian province, eastern China, while China General Nuclear (CGN) is building two at Fangchenggang in Guangxi province in the south of the country.

There are two Hualong One units under construction at Kanupp in Pakistan. These are the first of their type being built outside China.

CGN is proposing to use a UK version of its Hualong One design at Bradwell, England.