China connects 18th nuclear reactor to the grid

Hongyanhe 2 has been connected to the Chinese electricity grid, the 18th reactor in the country to do so.

The unit is a CPR-1000 pressurized water reactor, on which construction was started in 2008. The first unit at the site has been operating on a commercial basis since June and now unit 2 is set to follow in a matter of months. Two more units are under construction and expected to start up next year. Beyond these the site could also feature two further units although the technology for these has not been announced.

The site in northern Liaoning province incorporates a seawater desalination plant producing 10,080 cubic metres of potable water per day. It is about 420 kilometres from Beijing across the Bo Hai Sea.

The owner and operator of the plant is Liaoning Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Co, a joint venture of China General Nuclear and China Power Investment Corp (45% each) and Dalian Construction Investment Group. The cost of all four units was put at CNY50 billion ($8.2 billion)

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