Reactor vessel installed at Xudabao 1

Wednesday, 16 July 2025

The reactor pressure vessel has been installed at unit 1 of the Xudabao nuclear power plant in China’s Liaoning Province. It will be one of two CAP1000 reactors planned for the first plant, where two VVER-1200 reactors are also under construction.

The vessel – weighing more than 300 tonnes – was hoisted into position within the reactor building on 13 July. The vessel will house the nuclear reactor and is the core of a nuclear power plant.

“The successful installation of the pressure vessel not only provides sufficient space and technical preparation for the subsequent installation of key equipment such as steam generators, main pipelines, pressurisers, and reactor internals, but also marks the steady progress of Xudabao nuclear power plant unit 1 from the civil construction stage to the equipment installation stage,” China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said.

_{(Image: CNNC)}

On 6 November 2023, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that the National Nuclear Safety Administration had decided to issue a construction licence for Xudabao units 1 and 2, which will both feature 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors – the Chinese version of the Westinghouse AP1000. A ceremony was held later that month at the Xudabao site near Xingcheng City, Huludao, to mark the start of construction of unit 1.

The Xudabao project was originally expected to comprise six CAP1000 reactors, with units 1 and 2 in the first phase. Site preparation began in November 2010. The National Development and Reform Commission gave its approval for the project in January 2011. CNNC noted that the total investment in units 1 and 2 exceeds CNY48 billion (USD6.6 billion).

However, with a change in plans, construction of two Russian-supplied VVER-1200 reactors as Xudabao units 3 and 4 began in July 2021 and May 2022, respectively.

The Xudabao plant is owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Ltd, in which CNNC holds a 70% stake with Datang International Power Generation Company holding 20% and State Development and Investment Corporation owning 10%. The general contractor is China Nuclear Power Engineering Company Ltd, a subsidiary of CNNC.

Two further CAP1000 reactors are proposed for units 5 and 6 at the Xudabao plant.