Tianwan NPP Phase II project put into operation

A Tianwan nuclear power plant in Jiangsu province [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Unit 4 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in East China's Jiangsu province, the largest cooperative project between China and Russia, finished its 100-hour full power operation test at 3:17 am on Dec 22, signaling that it is qualified for commercial operation.

The second phase of the Tianwan NPP was put into full operation on schedule. It is China National Nuclear Corporation(CNNC)'s  fourth million-kilowatt-hour nuclear power unit to begin operation this year. At present, CNNC has 21 units in operation, expected to generate a total of 110 billion kWh of electricity by the year end.

As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Russia have conducted extensive cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The four units of the Tianwan NPP, which adopt Russian-designed VVER 1000 reactors, meet the safety requirements for third generation international nuclear power stations and have generated over 190 billion kWh of electricity.

The No 2 unit was granted a score of 100 by the World Association of Nuclear Operators in 2017, ranking first among all VVER nuclear power units in the world.

Upon the full operation of the Tianwan NPP's two units in the second phase, the four units in the NPP will generate electricity that can meet the demands of 20 million households in China for a year.

The environmental effect will be equivalent to afforestation of more than 70,000 hectares in the Yangtze River delta region.

The first phase of the Tianwan project was hailed as a model nuclear energy cooperation project between China and Russia and the construction of the second phase saw the expansion of China's opening-up. On June 8, 2018, CNNC signed an agreement with the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom to build another two units using VVER-1200 reactors.

(Executive editor: Li Shuling)