The second heavy-water reactor generating unit at the Qinshan
Nuclear Power Plant in east China's Zhejiang
Province went into commercial power generation early Thursday
morning.
"The generating unit began commercial operation 112 days ahead
of schedule," said Kang Rixin, general manager of the Qinshan
Third-Phase Nuclear Power Plant Co. Ltd, adding that the
third-phase plant has since been put into full operation.
The third phase of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant located in
Haiyan County, the first commercial heavy-water nuclear reactor
project with two steam turbines, is also the largest project
financed jointly by China and Canada.
The reactors, with a lifespan of 40 years, are expected to
produce about 10 billion kwh of electricity each year after both
generating units are operational.
The first such generating unit has been safely operating at full
capacity since late December of 2002 when it began commercial power
generation.
(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2003)