In the eastern part of China, in Jiangsu province, the implementation of an ambitious engineering project has begun - the construction of the Xuwei nuclear power plant. According to the Global Times, this nuclear power plant will be the first of its kind, combining different types of reactors for the simultaneous generation of electricity and providing steam for a large petrochemical cluster. The ceremony for pouring the first concrete, which took place on January 16, marked the beginning of the implementation of key tasks in China's five-year development plan.
The Xuwei nuclear power plant is distinguished by technological innovation: on one site, a third-generation pressurized water reactor Hualong One and a fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor will operate. Engineers have planned for the heat from one of the reactors to be used for steam production, which will then be "reheated" using energy from the second reactor to the required parameters for industrial use. This will allow for an impressive generation of 13,000 tons of steam every hour, fully meeting the needs of nearby chemical production facilities.
The scale of this project is also impressive. In the first phase, it is planned to launch two Hualong One units and one gas-cooled reactor. After reaching full capacity, the complex will produce more than 11.5 billion kWh of electricity annually and supply over 32 million tons of steam. The environmental benefits of implementing "peaceful atom" technologies in industry are equivalent to reducing the burning of 7.26 million tons of coal, which will prevent nearly 20 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere each year. During construction, Chinese specialists are using modern technologies, including intelligent laser tracking and robotic welding.
The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) emphasizes that Xuwei represents not just a new station, but a symbol of the entire industry's transition to a new level. China is moving from traditional electricity generation to a more diverse energy model, offering the global market an effective solution for decarbonizing heavy industry. By April 2025, China will hold the status of a world leader in the number of operational and under-construction nuclear power units, exceeding a total of one hundred.
