China's first Hualong One nuclear reactor begins operations
BEIJING: China National Nuclear Corp said its first nuclear power unit that uses Hualong One, a third-generation nuclear reactor, started commercial operations on Saturday (Jan 30).
The reactor, located in the city of Fuqing city in China’s southeastern Fujian province, was designed to have a 60-year lifespan, with its core equipment domestically produced. Each unit of the Hualong No. 1 has a capacity of 1.161 million kilowatts and can meet the annual domestic electricity demand of 1 million people in moderately developed countries, according to China National Nuclear Corp, or CNNC.
“With Hualong One online, China is now at the forefront of third-generation nuclear technology in the world, alongside countries like the United States, France and Russia,” said CNNC President Yu Jianfeng.
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Yu said the commercial use of Hualong One will also reduce carbon emissions and help achieve China’s low-carbon goals such as carbon neutrality before 2060.
A second Hualong One unit is due to be completed later this year.