China approves reactor projects

China National Nuclear Corporation has received governmental approval to begin preliminary work on four new nuclear power reactors. These are two at the existing Tianwan site in Jiangsu province and two at the new Xudabao plant in Liaoning province.

 
The approval came from the National Development and Reform Commission and should lead to the construction of Tianwan 3 and 4 of Phase II of the plant and the first two units at Phase I of Xudabao.
 
At Tianwan, CNNC will construct two 1060 MWe Russian-supplied VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors, alongside the existing two such units at the site. A contract for the engineering design of Tianwan 3 and 4 was signed in September 2010 between CNNC subsidiary Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation and AtomStroyExport, and the general construction contract was signed in November 2010. First concrete for unit 3 is scheduled to be poured in December 2012, while concrete for unit 4 will start to be poured in August 2013, CNNC said.