Russia has completed the delivery of state-of-the-art nuclear equipment to China, including a reactor hull and four steam generators, for the Tianwan nuclear power plant. The plant already has four older VVER-1000 water-water energetic reactors in operation and is set to receive two more advanced VVER-1200 reactors, making it the largest nuclear power plant in the world in terms of energy output.
The reactor hull arrived at the construction site of Unit 7 at the Tianwan plant in coastal Jiangsu Province after a two-month sea voyage from St. Petersburg. The four steam generators were delivered the day before. The equipment was manufactured at Volgodonsk, a river port that houses the nuclear engineering company Atommash, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy giant Rosatom.
Each VVER-1200 reactor is housed in a massive 13-meter-long, 4.5-meter-wide barrel-shaped pressure containment unit weighing 320 tons. Complementing the reactor hulls are four steam generators, each weighing 340 tons, which convert heat energy into a form that can be used to generate electricity through steam turbines.
This delivery is part of a contract signed in 2019 between Russia and China for the construction of four VVER-1200 reactors. Last month, Russia completed another set of VVER-1200 equipment for Unit 3 of the Xudabao nuclear power plant, which is under construction in Liaoning Province. The reactor hull and steam generators for that plant are also en route to China. Notably, the construction of Unit 3 reached a significant milestone in late July with the completion and mounting of a 740-ton protective steel dome for the building, done in a single phase. This streamlined process allowed the construction phase to finish six months ahead of schedule.
China is currently experiencing a boom in its atomic energy industry, with 24 nuclear power units under construction. These contracts with China have been beneficial for Atommash, which is on track to complete a record five sets of reactor equipment for both domestic and international customers this year.
It takes approximately two years to manufacture a VVER-1200 reactor set. Atommash aims to complete the next two sets for the Xudabao and Tianwan plants by 2024.
This collaboration between Russia and China in the nuclear energy sector is significant for both countries. It strengthens their partnership and promotes the development of clean and sustainable energy sources. Furthermore, it showcases Russia’s expertise in nuclear technology and its ability to meet the growing global demand for safe and efficient nuclear power.
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