Unit 2 of the Fuqing nuclear power plant in China's Fujian province has been connected to the electricity grid. It is expected to enter commercial operation by the end of the year.

Fuqing 2 starts supplying electricity to the grid (Image: CNNC)The 1,087 MWe CPR-1000 pressurized water reactor (PWR) was connected to the grid in early August, says World Nuclear News quoting plant owner China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC).

Construction began in September 2009. The loading of 157 fuel assemblies into the reactor's core was carried out in May 2015, following the successful completion of hot testing the unit's nuclear island. The unit achieved first criticality on July 22.

CNNC said various tests would now be carried out at Fuqing 2 —including load tests and transient testing — before the unit enters commercial operation later this year.

The Fuqing plant will eventually house six Chinese-designed PWRs. Unit 1 started up in July 2014, was connected to the grid the following month and entered commercial operation in November. Ground was broken in June 2009 for Fuqing unit 3 and 4, which will also feature CPR-1000 reactors. Unit 3 should begin operation in late 2015. Unit 4 is slated to start up in 2017.

Last November, CNNC announced that the fifth and sixth units at the Fuqing site will use the indigenously designed Hualong One reactor, marking its first deployment. China's State Council gave final approval for construction of Fuqing units 5 and 6 in mid-April. First concrete for unit 5 was poured in May.

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