Construction of the first power unit of the Zhaoyuan nuclear power plant has officially started in China. The Chinese General Nuclear Energy Corporation has announced the completion of pouring the first concrete into the base of the nuclear island of the future plant, which will become the country's first nuclear power plant with a cooling tower.
The new unit is equipped with the Hualong-1 reactor, a third—generation technology developed in China. In total, six such power units are planned to be built at the site. The total installed capacity of the complex will reach approximately 7.2 million kilowatts, which will provide electricity to about 5 million people annually.
China continues to actively expand its nuclear power park: as of the end of 2024, 28 nuclear power plants with 58 power units with a capacity of more than 60 million kilowatts were operating in the country. In addition, over 50 units were under construction, which confirms Beijing's policy of large-scale development of nuclear energy.
