The Chinese nuclear regulator National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) has reported that the Taishan-1 nuclear reactor project in Guangdong (southeastern China) is currently undergoing low-power tests. China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) started to load fuel in April 2018 while the hot functional test phase was completed in January 2018. A first nuclear chain reaction was carried out in June 2018. So far, the reactor is likely to be connected to the external power grid in July 2018 and should reach 100% capacity during the third quarter of the year.
The Taishan nuclear project is developed by the Guangdong Taishan Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company Limited, a joint venture between CGNPC (70%) and EDF (30%). The project will feature two Areva's EPR reactors of 1,750 MW each and the construction started in 2009. Two similar reactors have been approved on the site.