The French energy company EDF reports that a first nuclear chain reaction has been carried out at the Taishan-1 EPR project in Guangdong (southeastern China), which was initially expected to be commissioned in December 2017. Fuel was loaded in April 2018, while the hot functional test phase was completed in January 2018. The unit is currently expected to be commissioned later in 2018, while the next unit Taishan-2 is expected for 2019 (delayed from the first half of 2018). The project is close to completion and the project is on its way to become the first EPR reactor to enter operation.
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.