China National Nuclear Corp., the nation's biggest nuclear reactor builder, said the second unit at its Tianwan plant is ready for commercial operation after a full-capacity testing.
The second reactor at the $3.2 billion Tianwan plant in eastern China ran at full capacity of 1,050 megawatts at 3:38 p.m. local time yesterday, the Beijing-based company said in a statement on its Web site yesterday.
China wants to cut its dependence on oil and coal by increasing the use of natural gas, renewable energy and nuclear power. The country needs to add two reactors a year to meet a target of generating 4 percent of its power from nuclear plants by 2020, from about 2.3 percent currently.
The nation's nuclear safety authority has confirmed that the reactor is safe to begin operating, the company said.
The Tianwan plant's two units will start transmitting power to the country's grid this year, China Electricity Council, which represents 194 industry members, said Jan. 16. The first unit will commence operation by June, while the second will be started up in December, it said then.
The Tianwan plant in Jiangsu province was built in cooperation with Russia, the council said in January.
