1st nuclear plant in W. China begins operation

The first nuclear power plant in western China began operation on Oct. 25. It is expected to provide up to 15 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year of cheap, safe and clean power to the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone in southwest China, China News Service reported.

The phase 1 project of the Fangchenggang nuclear power plant, first of its kind in western China, began operation on Oct. 25 in Fangchenggang City Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Lying only 45 kilometers from the border with Vietnam, the plant is located in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The phase-1 project contains two 1,000-magawatt (MW) CPR-1000 reactors, which are domestically-developed second-generation, pressurized water reactors. Construction of the plant started on July 30, 2010.

Compared with a coal-fired power plant of the same capacity, the nuclear facility can save 4.82 million tons of standard coal every year. It can also cut down the annual emission of carbon dioxide by 11.86 million tons, and sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide by 190,000 tons. In environmental terms, this is equivalent to the growth of 32,500 hectares of forest a year.

According to the development plan, Hualong One, China's third-generation nuclear reactor design, will be used in the plant's Unit 3 and Unit 4. This is of international significance as the same type of reactor will be used in the Bradwell nuclear plant in Essex, southeast England.