Russia and China on 20 January signed the final acceptance protocol for the nuclear island of unit 3 of the Tianwan NPP, transferring ownership to the Chinese customer for permanent operation. The signing ceremony took place at the plant during the working visit of Alexey Likhachev, Director General of state nuclear corporation Rosatom. Likhachev noted that Tianwan units 3 and 4 had been put into commercial operation "in record time". The plant is "a vivid example of the highest skills of Russian and Chinese nuclear scientists, the best confirmation of the synergy of the personal and professional contribution of each employee", he said.

The Tianwan plant comprises four VVER-1000 units. Units 1&2 were put into warranty operation in 2007, and units 3&4 began commercial operation in 2018. Tianwan 5&6 are Chinese-designed 1080MWe ACPR1000 pressurised water reactors. In June 2018, during Russian President Vladmimir Putin's state visit to China, an intergovernmental protocol and a framework contract was signed for the construction of units 7 & 8 followed by a general contract for their construction in March 2019. Units 7&8 will be equipped with Generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors. Construction of unit 7 is expected to begin in 2020, the press service of Rusatom-International Network (part of Rosatom) said. "At the moment, the site is fundamentally ready. The parties expressed the hope that the first concrete of power unit 7 will be poured in December 2020, ahead of the schedule by five months," the statement said.