Two of CGN's Hualong One (HPR1000) Units Approved for Fuel Loading

On December 24, 2025, Unit 1 of the Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Project and Unit 1 of the Zhejiang San'ao Nuclear Power Project, both under CGN, were issued operating licenses by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. At 17:48 on the same day, the first nuclear fuel loading officially commenced at Unit 1 of CGN's Taipingling Nuclear Power Project. At 18:28, Unit 1 of CGN's Zhejiang San'ao Nuclear Power Project also began its first nuclear fuel loading. This marks the official entry of the two Hualong One (HPR1000) units into the main system nuclear commissioning phase, a critical step that lays a solid foundation for achieving the goal of grid-connected power generation.

▲ Unit 1 of CGN's Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Project

▲ Unit 1 of CGN's Zhejiang San'ao Nuclear Power Project

The first fuel loading involves loading new nuclear fuel assemblies into the reactor pressure vessel. It is the dividing line between cold and hot functional tests in nuclear power engineering and one of the most critical steps before a nuclear power plant is connected to the grid. During the preparation phase for fuel loading, the engineering and production teams of the San'ao and Taipingling nuclear power projects collaborated deeply and efficiently. While ensuring safety and quality, they benchmarked against commercial operation mature plant standards and overcame challenges to ensure the site was ready for high-quality fuel loading to begin. After fuel loading is complete, the project construction teams will adhere to the basic principles of "Safety First, Quality First, and Pursuit of Excellence," strictly following technical procedures and quality standards to advance subsequent commissioning work and ensure the units are commissioned on schedule and to a high standard.

▲ CGN Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Project

▲ CGN Zhejiang San'ao Nuclear Power Project

Hualong One (HPR1000), a national calling card for China's nuclear power industry on the global stage, is an innovative third-generation pressurized water reactor nuclear power technology developed and designed by China with completely independent intellectual property rights. It has passed both the European Utility Requirements (EUR) certification and the UK Generic Design Assessment (GDA). The design incorporates multiple features, including 177 core fuel assemblies and a combination of active and passive safety systems, meeting the world's highest safety requirements and latest technical standards. A single Hualong One (HPR1000) nuclear power unit can generate nearly 10 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to meet the yearly production and living needs of a population of 1 million. Each year, it can reduce standard coal consumption by over 3 million tons and carbon dioxide emissions by over 8.2 million tons, equivalent to planting 22,500 hectares of forest. To date, CGN has 20 Hualong One (HPR1000) units in operation or under construction, with batch construction progressing steadily.