The largest and heaviest module - the CA20 - has been installed at unit 2 of the Xudabao nuclear power plant in China's Liaoning province, China National Nuclear Corporation subsidiary China Nuclear Power Engineering Company Limited has announced.
The CA20 module - 20.7 metres long, 14.2 metres wide and 21 metres high and weighing just over 1000 tonnes - was hoisted into place on 3 November, the company said.
The cuboid-shaped steel module will comprise of plant and equipment for used fuel storage, transmission, the heat exchanger and waste collection, among other things.
"This is another large structural module of unit 2 after the bottom head was hoisted into place on 27 October 2024, laying a solid foundation for the structural construction of the auxiliary plant of the nuclear island," CNPEC said.
The construction of units 1 and 2 of the Xudabao (also known as Xudapu) plant was approved by China's State Council on 31 July last year.
On 6 November last year, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that the National Nuclear Safety Administration had decided to issue a construction licence for Xudabao units 1 and 2, which will both feature 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors - the Chinese version of the Westinghouse AP1000. A ceremony was held on 15 November at the Xudabao site near Xingcheng City, Huludao, to mark the start of construction of unit 1. Construction of unit 2 began on 17 July this year.
The Xudabao project was originally expected to comprise six CAP1000 reactors, with units 1 and 2 in the first phase. However, with a change in plans, construction of two Russian-supplied VVER-1200 reactors as Xudabao units 3 and 4 began in July 2021 and May 2022, respectively. These units are expected to be commissioned in 2027 and 2028.
The Xudabao plant is owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Ltd, in which CNNC holds a 70% stake with Datang International Power Generation Company holding 20% and State Development and Investment Corporation owning 10%.