Xudabao control room simulator commissioned

A commissioning ceremony for the full-scope simulator was held on Wednesday in the simulator's main control room.

Gao Shunlong, chairman of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) subsidiary CNNC Wuhan Nuclear Power Operation Technology Co, which developed the simulator, said the commissioning was a significant milestone in the project's construction and a new starting point for future work. He said CNNC Wuhan will ensure the operation, maintenance, and optimisation of the simulator.

The power plant will soon officially launch simulator training for the first batch of operators of units 1 and 2, "laying a solid foundation of talent and strengthening nuclear safety for subsequent unit commissioning and operation".

The Xudabao plant

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced in November 2023 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 site (Image: CNNC)}

The Xudabao project (also known as Xudapu) 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. Commissioning of those units is scheduled for 2027 and 2028, 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.

Upon completion, the six-unit project - with a total installed capacity exceeding 7.6 MWe - will provide nearly 54 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, saving 19.2 million tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 56.7 million tonnes annually, CNNC said.