China starts construction of 1,060 MW Tianwan-3 nuclear reactor

The construction of a new nuclear reactor started at the Tianwan site in the Jiangsu province of China. The Russian-designed model (AES-91 VVER-1000 unit designed by Gidopress and supplied by Rosatom) is the fourth to be inaugurated since China resumed approvals for new plants at the end of October. AtomStroyExport is the main contractor, supplying the nuclear island worth about 30% of the project value. The reactor system components will be sourced from the Russian supply chain, while an Areva-Siemens instrumentation and control system will be used. A similar 1,060 MW unit will be built on the same site. Tianwan 3 is slated to begin power generation in 2018, with unit 4 expected to follow one year later, operated by China National Nuclear Corporation.

Meanwhile, Ningde-1 nuclear reactor entered the testing phase in the Fujian province. The unit started generating power and should be fully commissioned in the next few months. Ningde-1 is one of the four 1,080 MW CPR-1000 units under construction at the Ningde site. They should all be in operation before the end of 2015 and are expected to ease pressure on energy transport infrastructure in the congested coastal areas of China's southeast. The plant is 46% owned by CGNPC and 44% by China Datang Corporation. The remaining 10% is held by Fujian Provincial Energy Group.