China has poured first concrete for Unit 1 of the Bailong Nuclear Power Plant in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Unit 2 of the Lufeng Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong Province, marking the official start of construction of two CAP1000 nuclear reactors.
The construction of Phase I (Units 1 and 2) of the Bailong plant was among approvals for 11 new reactors granted by China’s State Council in August 2024.
According to World Nuclear News, the two units—estimated to cost about CNY40 billion (USD5.6 billion)—are expected to take 56 months to construct.
SPIC subsidiary Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute (SNERDI), a joint general contractor for the project, announced that it poured first concrete on 22 December for the nuclear island basemat of Bailong Unit 1.
The company said a total of 6,662 cubic metres of concrete was poured during a process lasting just over 64 hours.
Located on the Jiangshan Peninsula in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi Province, the Bailong plant is planned to have six units, with a total installed capacity of 8.62 GWe and a total investment of approximately CNY120 billion. The first phase of the project adopts the CAP1000 design, with each unit having a capacity of 1.25 million kilowatts.
Four CAP1400 reactors are also proposed for the site in later phases. The location is about 24 kilometres from the border with Vietnam and about 30 kilometres southwest of China General Nuclear’s Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant.
Once the first phase is completed and operational, the plant is expected to generate about 20 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This is equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by about 6 million tonnes and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 16 million tonnes per year.
“It will play a positive role in optimising Guangxi’s energy structure, promoting energy conservation and emission reduction, and providing stable and reliable clean energy support as Guangxi accelerates the construction of a national comprehensive energy security zone and advances high-quality development in ethnic minority areas,” SPIC said.
SNERDI also poured first concrete for the nuclear island basemat of Lufeng Unit 2 on 22 December.
The proposed construction of four 1,250-MWe CAP1000 reactors (Units 1–4) at the Lufeng site was approved by China’s National Development and Reform Commission in September 2014. However, construction of Units 1 and 2 did not receive State Council approval until August 2024. Approval for Units 3 and 4 is still pending. First concrete for Unit 1 was poured in February last year.
Contractor China Nuclear Construction Corporation 22 (CNI22) said about 6,635 cubic metres of concrete was poured over approximately 68 hours to form the foundation of Unit 2’s nuclear island, which measures about 89 metres long and 49 metres at its widest point.
The Lufeng plant—located in Jieshi Town, Lufeng City, Guangdong Province—is planned to eventually house six 1,000-megawatt pressurised water reactor units.
In April 2022, the State Council approved construction of two HPR1000 (Hualong One) units at Lufeng as Units 5 and 6. First concrete was poured for Unit 5 on 8 September 2022 and for Unit 6 on 26 August 2023.
“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,” CNI22 said.
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