WNISR
Third Nuclear Reactor Construction Start in China in 2022
As of mid-year, no new-build launched yet in any other country
WNISR, 29 June 2022
The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced the beginning of the concrete pour for the base of the reactor building at Sanmen-3 in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on 28 June 2022. The act marks the official construction start of the first reactor based on the CAP1000 design, the Chinese adaptation of the Westinghouse AP1000 design.
The Sanmen site already hosts two AP1000 that started generating power in 2018. Sanmen-3, to be followed by Sanmen-4, is the beginning of what is considered the second phase of the overall project of four units at the site.
In April 2022, China’s State Council had approved the construction of four CAP1000 reactors, with two units at Haiyang, Shandong province, in addition to the two Sanmen units, as well as two units of the HPR-1000 (Hualong One) design in Lufeng, Guangdong province. It was the first time since 2008 that the launch of six reactors was authorized in one decision.
Beginning of concreting the base slab of Sanmen-3 reactor building - Photo CNNC
The work at Sanmen is the third construction start in China in 2022—no other country has begun building a commercial nuclear power plant yet this year—which brings the number of reactors under construction in China to 21 and to 53 globally.