China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said on 10 July that unit 5 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province had completed its first fuel loading the previous day.

Tianwan 5 is a 1000MW pressurised water reactor of the domestically developed ACPR1000 design. It is seen as a Generation II+ design and a precursor to Generation III designs. Tianwan 1-4 are Russian supplied VVER-1000 units.

Tianwan 1&2 were put into warranty operation in 2007, and Tianwan 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 Tianwan 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 unit 5 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant completes its first fuel loading on July 9. [Photo/CNNC]