(Yicai) Aug. 3 -- China’s cabinet has given the green light to eight new nuclear power units across four projects, with a total investment of more than CNY160 billion (USD23.7 billion).

Each reactor unit, which will cost about CNY20 billion (USD3 billion), will be powered by China’s independently developed third-generation atomic power technologies, the State Council announced on July 31. 

China has approved 49 nuclear reactors since 2022, with a total investment of nearly CNY1 trillion (USD148.1 billion). This marks a new phase of rapid development for the Chinese nuclear power industry, characterized by scale, safety, and orderly progress.

The four projects are Phase II of the Jinqimen nuclear power plant in Zhejiang province and Phase I of the Zhuanghe nuclear power plant in Liaoning province, developed by China National Nuclear Power Corporation, Phase III of China General Nuclear Power’s Taipingling nuclear power plant in Guangdong province, and Phase I of State Power Investment Corporation’s Laiyang nuclear power plant in Shandong province.

Phase II of the Jinqimen nuclear power plant, Phase III of the Taipingling nuclear power plant, and Phase I of the Zhuanghe nuclear power plant will employ the Hualong One atomic power technology. The first two will serve as demonstration projects for the next-generation Hualong One 2.0 technology. Meanwhile, Phase I of the Laiyang nuclear power project will use the Guohe One atomic power technology.

Hualong One is a third-generation, gigawatt-class pressurized water reactor nuclear power technology, developed by CNNC and CGN based on years of experience in nuclear power research, design, manufacturing, construction, and operation in China. 

Ten Hualong One units are in commercial operation, both domestically and internationally, with 37 more approved or already under construction, making Hualong One the world’s top third-generation atomic power technology by commissioned units.

Guohe One is a third-generation nuclear power technology developed by State Power Investment Corporation, with fully autonomous intellectual property rights. The first Guohe One unit of the Rongcheng nuclear power project in Shandong has already entered commercial operation, while the second unit is in the commissioning phase.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione