China-France JV's second nuclear power unit ready for commercial use

A third-generation nuclear power unit of a China-France joint venture in southern Guangdong Province has completed all the testing operations and is ready for commercial use, said China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) Saturday.

The dome of the containment structure for the No.2 reactor is being hoisted at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Taishan city, south China's Guangdong province, September 12, 2012. [File Photo: IC]

The No.2 unit at the Taishan nuclear power plant will be the world's second third-generation European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) nuclear power unit, said CGN, the largest nuclear power operator in China. The No. 1 unit, which was put into commercial use in December last year, was the first of its kind.

The Taishan nuclear power plant, the largest Sino-French project in the energy field, uses the EPR for its No.1 and No. 2 power units, with a unit capacity of 1.75 million kilowatts each.

The power plant is run by a joint venture set up by CGN, French energy supplier Electricite de France (EDF), and Guangdong Energy Group Co., Ltd.

Construction of the reactor for the No.2 power unit began in 2010 and the unit was linked to the grid on June 23.

It is estimated that about 8.03 million tonnes of standard coal will be saved, with over 21.09 million tonnes of carbon emissions cut upon the completion of the two units.