Construction has started on China’s second AP1000 unit, at Haiyang site in the country’s eastern province of Shandong.
The first concrete pour occurred just days after the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) issued the construction permit for unit 1 & 2 of Haiyang nuclear power project, on 24 September.
Senior vice president, Westinghouse Nuclear Power Plants, Ric Perez said the pour of concrete at the Haiyang site continues to show that Westinghouse, its partners and Chinese customers are committed to safely bringing online all four of the China AP1000 plants, two of which will be at the Haiyang site.
"Working with our team member Shaw and our Chinese customers, we are excited about the on-time completion of concrete pour at Haiyang,” he said.
“Reaching this milestone continues to move China forward in meeting its current and future energy demands while supporting economic growth.”
In summer of 2007 Westinghouse and consortium partner Shaw signed contracts with State Nuclear Power Technology Corp (SNPTC), Sanmen Nuclear Power Co, Shandong Nuclear Power Co, and China National Technical Import & Export Corp (CNTIC) for four AP1000 reactors. The four plants are to be constructed in pairs on China's eastern coast at Sanmen in Zhejiang province and Haiyang in Shandong province.
The pour at Haiyang encompassed over 5000 cubic meters of concrete, 1200 tons of reinforcing steel and 993 anchor bolts. The concrete will serve as the foundation for all of the nuclear island buildings, including the containment vessel and the shield building. First concrete was poured for Sanmen 1 in April, also on schedule, with operation of the unit expected in late 2013.
Units 1&2 at Haiyang are expected to come online in May 2014 and March 2015, respectively. In total six 1000MW-class reactors are planned for the site, with room reserved for extension.
Westinghouse and China are currently in discussion on plans for additional AP1000 plants to be sited inland of China's coastal areas.
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