Fuel loading begins at Sanmen nuclear power plant

• 6 years ago (2018-04-27)
• David Flin

Asia 859 Nuclear 643

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China has started fuel loading at Westinghouse Electric Co’s first next-generation nuclear reactor at Sanmen nuclear power plant in Zhejiang province after getting approval from the Chinese Government. Westinghouse has conducted 55 tests at Sanmen Unit 1 since last summer to ensure operational safety.

Joespeh Jacobelli, Senior Analyst of Asian Utilities at Bloomberg, said: “The initial fuel loading at Sanmen Unit 1 is a big milestone as the development learning curve will help with the construction of more units in the future, and it could enable them to be built more rapidly and gradually cut development costs. It is also important for China National Nuclear Corporation, which needs new units for earnings growth.” Jacobelli said that he believed that there is a good chance the unit may come online before the end of 2018.

China plans to start construction of six to eight nuclear reactors this year and raise its total nuclear generating capacity by as much as 6 GW, according to the National Energy Administration.