China has been implementing measures to increase investments in nuclear energy generation as part of its latest Five-Year Plan. To accelerate the rollout of Chinese nuclear energy, the nation has broken ground on two additional nuclear reactor units scheduled to begin construction this month. The revival of the global nuclear energy sector has seen a litany of nations investing huge sums of money and resources to accelerate the rollout of nuclear energy across the international energy market.
China pours first concrete at Bailong nuclear power plant
The Chinese government has stated that the first concrete has been poured at the additional nuclear reactor units at the Bailong nuclear power plant, located in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This is a step in the construction direction for the latest nuclear power development in China.
The newly approved construction works have commenced at the Bailong plant as part of the national government approval for 11 new reactors to be built across several sites in the Chinese energy market. China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) has outlined plans to construct two CAP1000 pressurised water reactors as the first phase of construction works at the site.
A sizable investment of approximately $5.6 billion was made available for the project as part of phase 1, and expectations are that the construction phase could last up to 56 months. State Power Investment Corporation subsidiary, Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute (SNERDI), has announced that it has poured the first concrete of the nuclear island at the Bailong Unit 1.
The Bailong facility, which is located on Jiangshan Peninsula in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi Province, is planned to house six units, with a total installed capacity of approximately 1.25 million kilowatts. Once phase 1 is completed, the plant is expected to generate 20 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
“It will play a positive role in optimising Guangxi’s energy structure and promoting energy conservation and emission reduction, and provide stable and reliable clean energy support for Guangxi to accelerate the construction of a national comprehensive energy security zone and serve the high-quality development of ethnic minority areas.” – China’s State Power Investment Corporation
SNERDI has also poured the first concrete at another nuclear island in China
The Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute has also poured the first concrete at the Lufeng Unit 2, located in Jieshi Town, Lufeng City, Guangdong Province. The plan included the proposed construction of four 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors on site.
The project has been delayed several times, as it was approved by China’s National Development and Reform Commission in 2014, but has taken 20 years to reach this critical juncture in the project development. The Lufeng facility is set to house six 1,000 MW pressurised water reactor units.
In 2022, China’s State Council approved the plan to construct two HPR1000 (Hualong One) units at the nuclear power plant, and the first concrete has now been poured, marking a major development milestone for the project. China has been advancing several new nuclear energy projects in recent months, such as the Jinqimen development in Zhejiang.
“Upon completion, [the plant] will further optimise the regional energy structure, alleviate power supply pressure, and provide a continuous and stable supply of clean energy for the economic development of the Greater Bay Area,” – China Nuclear Construction Corporation 22
China’s rapid acceleration of its nuclear energy rollout is gaining momentum
With the first concrete for the Bailong and Lufeng nuclear projects now being poured, China is advancing its nuclear energy rollout this year. The nation has recently brought the second reactor unit into commercial service at the Zhangzhou nuclear project, exemplifying the government’s push to increase energy generation to meet an anticipated increase in energy demand across the nation.
