The loading of 177 fuel assemblies into the core of the Zhangzhou-1 nuclear power plant in Fujian province, eastern China, has begun with commercial operation planned for this year.
“The Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 1 began to load the first nuclear fuel, marking the entry of the unit into the main system with nuclear commissioning stage, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent unit criticality, grid-connected power generation and other work,” state owner and operator China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said.
China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued an operating licence for the unit on 12 October.