China’s nuclear power development keeps accelerating, and, according to the information from Monday to Sunday, two more nuclear power units were connected to the grid for commercial operation this week. Taipingling Unit 2 of Guangdong province completed all of its commissioning procedures on 3 August, and was connected to the grid on 1 August, 2026, and Changjiang Unit 3 of Hainan province began its first electricity generation on 1 August after its first criticality on 10 July. China’s installed nuclear capacity for electricity generation reached 63.98 GWe, ranking the country second in the world after the United States (96.9 GWe).
On 31 July, the Chinese State Council approved eight new nuclear reactor units to be built at four nuclear power project sites, including Jinqimen Phase II, Taipingling Phase III, Zhuanghe Phase I and Laiyang Phase I. The total investment in the eight new units is expected to exceed CNY170 billion, or USD25 billion, of which four are designed to adopt the new-generation Hualong One 2.0 nuclear reactor and two units under the Laiyang Project will use the Guohe One (CAP1400) reactor design for the first time in standardized batches. Construction on many nuclear power sites continued at the full speed, such as the first concrete was poured for the Bailong Unit 2 conventional island on 9 August while the fifth ring of the inner steel containment was installed at the Taipingling Unit 3 in Guangdong province.
As of the middle of August 2026, China operates a nuclear fleet comprising 64 power reactors with a total capacity of 63.98 GWe, while another 36 reactors are under construction, representing 49.5% of the world’s nuclear construction. In addition to those which are operating or under construction, China also has approved nuclear power projects, and so the combined capacity of nuclear power plants operating, under construction, and approved in China is close to 125 GW.
In China today, nuclear power reactors primarily use the Hualong One (HPR1000) pressurized water reactor as the main type for the nuclear power development, but there are also the CAP1000 (Chinese improvement of the Westinghouse AP1000), the larger CAP1400, the EPR at Taishan, the HTR-PM high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed reactor at Shidaowan, and the sodium-cooled fast reactor at Xiapu. The new Hualong One 2.0 nuclear reactor designed to apply intelligent control, modular construction and optimized active-passive safety systems will be demonstrated for the first time at the Jinqimen Phase II and Taipingling Phase III nuclear power projects.
At present, China’s nuclear power construction is mainly dominated by state-owned enterprises, including China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC). China’s nuclear construction period is shorter than the world’s average of around nine years by about half, with six years on average.
List of China’s Nuclear Power Sites Under Construction, Operation and Development
I. Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant, Guangxi Autonomous Region (owned by CGN)
The Fangchenggang nuclear power plant currently has four operating nuclear reactors, two CPR-1000 units (Units 1 and 2) each with a capacity of 1020 MWe, and two Hualong One (HPR1000) demonstration units (Units 3 and 4) of 1180 MWe. Unit 3 was connected to the grid in March 2023 and Unit 4 was connected to the grid in May 2024. Fangchenggang Phase III (Units 5 and 6) consists of two Hualong One nuclear reactors with a capacity of 1208 MWe each and was approved by the State Council in April 2025. The project of Units 5 and 6 started in mid-2025, and the two units are under civil engineering.
II. Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant, Shandong Province (owned by SPIC)
The Haiyang nuclear power plant currently has two operating units, namely two AP1000 nuclear reactors with rated power of 1250 MWe each. Haiyang Phase II (Units 3 and 4) is also being constructed, with two CAP1000 pressurized water reactors, each with a rated power of about 1161 MWe. In July 2026, the final large module CB20 steel containment water tank module of Unit 4 was installed, and the project entered the installation and commissioning stage. Haiyang Units 3 and 4 are each expected to be connected to the grid in 2027. Haiyang Phase III (Units 5 and 6) was approved in April 2025. When the Units 5 and 6 start operation, about 40 billion kWh of electricity can be generated annually.
III. Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant, Zhejiang Province (owned by CNNC)
The Sanmen nuclear power plant currently has two AP1000 units, while the Sanmen Phase II project is constructing two CAP1000 units. Sanmen Unit 3, the first CAP1000 nuclear reactor under construction in China, passed cold function tests in February 2026 and passed the pressure test of the containment vessel. Construction of Sanmen Unit 3 is expected to be completed in 2027 and connected to the grid. The Unit 4 started concrete pouring in March 2023 and is expected to be connected to the grid in 2028. Sanmen Phase III (Units 5 and 6) is also being planned, with two Hualong One nuclear reactors with a capacity of 1215 MWe each. It was approved in April 2025.
IV. Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, Guangdong Province (owned by CGN and EDF)
The Taishan nuclear power plant has two EPR units under operation with a rated power of 1750 MWe per unit. Taishan Phase II project (Units 3 and 4) which are designed to adopt the Hualong One nuclear reactor technology with an electric power of about 1200 MWe were approved by the State Council as part of the ten-unit nuclear power program in April 2025. The two units are now under construction.
V. Xiapu Nuclear Power Plant, Fujian Province (owned by CNNC)
The Xiapu nuclear power plant is home to China’s CFR-600 sodium-cooled fast reactor demonstration project. The Unit 1 of the project, a 600 MWe sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor, has entered the low-power test and trial operation stage and started test operations in December 2023 using high-enriched uranium fuel provided by Russia’s TVEL. Whether it will be connected to the grid remains to be seen. The Unit 2 is under construction and is scheduled to commence operations in 2026, possibly using mixed oxide (MOX) fuel in which plutonium from spent nuclear fuel has been recycled. In addition, two Hualong One nuclear reactors were approved in April 2025 as part of the Xiapu project. The CFR-600 sodium-cooled fast reactor is expected to play a leading role in China’s closed nuclear fuel cycle.
VI. Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant (Huizhou) in Guangdong Province (owned by CGN)
The Taipingling nuclear power plant located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has become one of the most important nuclear power sites in China. Taipingling Unit 1, the first domestic Hualong One nuclear power reactor, is designed to produce 1116 MWe of power and commenced commercial operations in April 2026. Taipingling Unit 2 was connected to the grid for commercial operation on 3 August, completing all of its commissioning procedures on 3 August. The new unit increased China’s total reactor capacity to 63.98 GWe, overtaking France to rank second in the world. Taipingling Unit 3 construction started in June 2025. The fifth ring of the inner steel containment at the Unit 3 was installed by the workers recently. The Unit 4 construction started on 10 May to lay the first nuclear-related concrete. The State Council approved Taipingling Phase III nuclear power project to construct Units 5 and 6, which are designed to demonstrate the newly developed Hualong One 2.0 nuclear reactor technology on 31 July, and the investment is expected to reach USD17 billion for the six-unit project.
VII. Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant, Fujian Province (owned by CNNC)
The Zhangzhou nuclear power plant has two Hualong One nuclear reactors under operation, with Unit 1 entering commercial operation in September 2024 and Unit 2 reaching first criticality in November 2025 and connected to the grid later in November and entered commercial operation on 1 January 2026. The Unit 3 construction started in February 2024, and the reactor pressure vessel has been installed, and the three steam generators have been positioned. The installation of the inner safety dome of the containment vessel was completed in early 2026. The Unit 4 construction started in September 2024 and the second and fifth steel liner rings of the inner containment have been installed. The units 3 and 4 at Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant are Hualong One HPR1000 nuclear reactors.
VIII. Lianjiang Nuclear Power Plant, Guangdong Province (owned by CGN)
The Lianjiang nuclear power plant is constructing two CAP1000 nuclear reactors, with Unit 1 started its construction in September 2023. In early February, the inner containment dome of the Unit 1 was installed. The main circulation pipeline welding of the Unit 1 was completed in May 2026, and the outer containment dome was installed in June 2026, marking the main civil construction of the nuclear power plant reactor building completed. The Unit 2 construction has also started. The concrete for the first time was poured. The nuclear power plant site where Lianjiang Nuclear Power Plant is located has a plan to construct six units. Unit 1 is scheduled to be completed and connected to the grid in 2028.
IX. Ningde Nuclear Power Plant, Fujian Province (owned by CGN)
The Ningde nuclear power plant’s current four units are operating, and the two Hualong One nuclear reactors are under construction. The Unit 5 construction started in July 2024 with its first concrete poured, which has entered the peak construction period with the start of the nuclear island key project construction in April this year. Unit 6 nuclear island first concrete was poured in December 2025, and conventional island first concrete was poured in July 2026. The two units are expected to be connected to the grid around 2029.
X. San’ao Nuclear Power Plant, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province (owned by CGN/CNNC)
San’ao Unit 1 finished its 168-hour trial operation on 29 April and officially started commercial operation this month, and it is the first Hualong One nuclear power reactor in the Yangtze River Delta region. San’ao Unit 2, which started its construction in December 2021, completed its cold functional test in October 2025 and is expected to start commercial operations in 2027. In addition, San’ao Units 3 and 4, which are planned to adopt the Hualong One nuclear reactor technology, were approved in August 2024 and were under construction. San’ao site, which plans to construct six units, will provide more than 54 billion kWh of electricity annually when the Units 1-6 are connected to the grid, which can meet about 80% of the electricity needs of Wenzhou city.
XI. Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, Hainan Province (owned by Huaneng/CGN)
The Changjiang nuclear power plant, located on Hainan Island, has two CNP-600 nuclear reactors under operation, including Units 1 and 2. Changjiang Phase II project consists of two Hualong One nuclear reactors, with Unit 3 entering its first criticality on 10 July and connected to the grid on 1 August this year, entering the load-carrying test and trial operation stage. The fuel assembly was loaded on 30 April. Construction of Unit 4, which started in December 2021, is also ongoing and is expected to enter the operational phase in early 2027. The investment of Changjiang Phase II construction, which began in December 2024, is expected to reach CNY40 billion (USD6.4 billion), with China Huaneng owning 51% of the shares.
XII. Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant, Shandong Province (owned by Huaneng/CNNC)
Shidaowan nuclear power plant, which owns the country’s most nuclear power technology diversity, has the high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed reactor demonstration unit, HTR-PM, with the world’s first and only third-generation nuclear power reactor of 210 MWe at its disposal. The demonstration unit of the HTR-PM consisted of two reactor modules connected to a single steam turbine and has been put into commercial operation since December 2023. The first unit of the newly developing Guohe One (CAP1400) nuclear reactor technology with a rated power of 1400 MWe was connected to the grid on 31 October 2024 and is undergoing power ascension tests, while the second unit is under construction. In addition, the Shidaowan nuclear power plant expansion project includes the construction of two additional Hualong One nuclear reactors. The construction of Unit 1, which started in July 2024, has installed the inner containment dome in April this year. The Unit 2 construction started in May 2025. Huaneng has plans to construct two phases with four Hualong One nuclear reactors at Shidaowan nuclear power plant with a total capacity of 4800 MWe.
XIII. Xudapu Nuclear Power Plant, Liaoning Province (owned by CNNC)
The Xudapu Nuclear Power Plant in Liaoning province, China, is adopting the CAP1000 nuclear reactor technology. The Unit 1 construction started in November 2023. In February this year, the nuclear power plant completed the installation of the 780-tonne inner steel containment dome, marking the transition from civil engineering to equipment installation. Unit 2 construction is under way, and both units are expected to be completed in 2028 and 2029, respectively. The nuclear power plant plans to construct six nuclear reactors with an investment of about USD19.5 billion.
XIV. Lufeng Nuclear Power Plant, Guangdong Province (owned by CGN)
The nuclear power plant is expected to become one of the largest Hualong One nuclear power bases in China. Lufeng Units 5 and 6 construction, which was approved in April 2022, is currently the focus of attention. Unit 5 (first concrete in September 2022) completed cold function tests on 27 April this year to check the integrity and tightness of the primary circuit under high pressure and is scheduled to be connected to the grid in 2028. Unit 6 (first concrete in August 2023) installed the reactor pressure vessel in February this year and raised its first steam generator in March this year, and is expected to be connected to the grid in 2029. The nuclear power plant with a planned six-unit capacity is expected to have an annual power generation of about 52 TWh when it goes into full operation.
XV. Jinqimen Nuclear Power Plant, in Xiangshan, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province (owned by CNNC)
The Jinqimen nuclear power plant currently has six Hualong One nuclear reactors to be constructed. The Unit 1 of the project started its construction in August 2025, and the first concrete was poured for the reactor building foundation. The Unit 2 construction started on 4 April this year. On 31 July, the State Council approved the construction of Jinqimen Nuclear Power Plant Phase II (Units 3 and 4) to adopt the Hualong One 2.0 nuclear reactor technology as part of the ten-unit nuclear power program approved in April this year. Unit 2 is scheduled to be put into operation in 2031.
XVI. Bailong Nuclear Power Plant, Guangxi Autonomous Region (owned by SPIC)
Bailong Nuclear Power Plant is constructing two CAP1000 nuclear reactors with a 56-month total construction period, with an investment of about CNY40 billion (USD5.6 billion). The Unit 1 has started the first concrete pouring of the nuclear island in December 2025, and the bottom head of the inner steel containment has been installed. The Unit 2 has reached a construction milestone on 9 August as the workers completed concrete pouring for the conventional island basemat with the help of continuous 38 hours and 46 minutes operation with 1,732 cubic meters of concrete. The nuclear power plant site plans to construct six units with a total capacity of 86.2 GWe with an investment of about CNY120 billion.
XVII. Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Plant, Dalian, Liaoning Province (owned by CNNC)
This is a newly approved nuclear power project site in Liaoning, with the State Council approving Zhuanghe Phase I nuclear power project (Units 1 and 2) on 31 July last week as part of the eight new reactor units approved by the State Council last week. The first Hualong One nuclear reactors in the Northeast China are expected to be constructed at Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Plant. The total investment in the Zhuanghe Phase I nuclear power project is expected to be CNY446 billion. Unit 1 is scheduled to start its construction in June 2027 with Unit 2 to start construction ten months later. The Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Plant site plans to construct six Hualong One nuclear reactors.
XVIII. Laiyang Nuclear Power Plant, Yantai, Shandong Province (owned by SPIC)
Laiyang Nuclear Power Plant is another newly approved nuclear power project site, with the Laiyang nuclear power project also being approved by the State Council on 31 July. The nuclear power plant project will adopt the Guohe One (CAP1400) nuclear reactor technology, with each unit having a rated power of about 1543 MWe. This is the first standard batch of nuclear power projects for the Guohe One (CAP1400) reactor technology. The project will be constructed in three phases with six reactors and a total investment of CNY1283 billion.
When completed, Laiyang Nuclear Power Plant will become China’s largest nuclear power station in terms of installed capacity. South Korea’s Doosan has signed a deal to supply nuclear components to the nuclear power plant.
China Nuclear Executive Summary This Week
Taipingling Unit 2 Commercial Operation. Taipingling Unit 2 (Hualong One) of CGN has completed all commissioning procedures and was connected to the grid for commercial operation on 3 August this year. This pushed China’s total nuclear power installed capacity to 63.98 GWe, overtaking France to rank second in the world in terms of nuclear power installed capacity for the first time, just behind the United States with 96.9 GWe.
Changjiang Unit 3 Grid Connection. Changjiang Unit 3 (Hualong One) in Hainan province was connected to the grid for commercial operation on 1 August following first criticality on 10 July. Fuel assembly was loaded on 30 April this year. The unit entered load-carrying test and trial operation.
State Council Approved Eight New Reactors. Premier Li Qiang presided over the State Council executive meeting on 31 July and approved the nuclear power projects of building four nuclear power plants with eight reactor units, including Jinqimen Phase II (two Hualong One 2.0 nuclear reactors), Taipingling Phase III (two Hualong One 2.0 nuclear reactors), Zhuanghe Phase I (two Hualong One nuclear reactors) and Laiyang Phase I (two Guohe One (CAP1400) nuclear reactors). The investment in the eight reactor units is expected to exceed CNY170 billion (USD25 billion), making it the first time for the approval of the construction of the two Hualong One 2.0 nuclear reactors and the first time for the standardized batch construction of the Guohe One (CAP1400) nuclear reactors.
Bailong Unit 2 Conventional Island Concrete Pour. SPIC completed the first concrete pour for the conventional island basemat of Bailong Unit 2 in Guangxi on 9 August. The concrete was poured continuously for 38 hours and 46 minutes with 1,732 cubic meters of concrete poured.
Taipingling Unit 3 Containment. The workers installed the fifth ring of the inner steel containment at Taipingling Unit 3 in Guangdong. This week, China’s nuclear power installed capacity for electricity generation has surpassed France. China is second in the world rankings in terms of nuclear power reactor installed capacity, and is the only one among the three major nuclear power countries in the world that is expanding its nuclear power.
World Nuclear News — New Chinese reactors reach start-up milestones
World Nuclear News — China approves construction of eight more reactors
World Nuclear News — Construction begins on fourth Taipingling unit
World Nuclear News — First unit at San’ao enters commercial operation
World Nuclear News — Inner dome installed at Shidaowan unit 1
World Nuclear News — Construction of second Jinqimen unit begins
World Nuclear News — China’s first CAP1400 begins supplying power
World Nuclear News — In pictures: Final module installed at Haiyang 4
World Nuclear News — Containment tests completed at Sanmen 3
World Nuclear News — Construction of Bailong 2 conventional island begins
NucNet — China’s Changjiang-3 Nuclear Power Plant Connected To Grid
NucNet — China Approves Eight New Nuclear Plants, Including Four With Hualong One 2.0
NucNet — CGN Announces Start Of Construction At Taipingling-4
NucNet — Steel Dome Installed For China’s Xudapu-1 CAP1000 Nuclear Plant
NucNet — China Completes Welding Of Main Circulation Pipeline For Lianjiang-1
NucNet — China Pours First Concrete For Unit 2 At Guangxi Bailong
NucNet — Cold Testing Completed For China’s Sanmen-3 CAP1000
NucNet — First Unit At China’s Sanao Nuclear Power Station Begins Commercial Operation
NucNet — Workers Install Fifth Ring Of Inner Steel Containment At Taipingling-3
Power Magazine — Chinese Government Approves Eight New Nuclear Units
Power Magazine — China’s Advanced Nuclear Efforts Are Pushing Frontiers
EIA — China’s nuclear power capacity nearly doubled since 2016
Energy Connects — China Approves $25 Billion Nuclear Expansion
Global Times — China’s Hualong One 2.0 demonstration projects approved
Global Times — China approves 4 new nuclear power projects ($25B)
CGTN — New Hualong One nuclear power unit starts construction in south China
China Daily — China’s nuclear power capacity ranks 1st globally
SASAC — First Hualong One Nuclear Power Unit in Yangtze River Delta Put into Operation
CSIS — China’s Nuclear Energy Priorities Under Its 15th Five-Year Plan
Global Energy Monitor — China is building half of the world’s new nuclear power
This report is prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security or commodity. The information contained herein has been compiled from publicly available sources believed to be reliable, including World Nuclear News, NucNet, the World Nuclear Association, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Power Magazine, Bloomberg, CGTN, Xinhua, Global Times, China Daily, and other industry publications. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the author makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information. Reactor counts, capacity figures, and construction timelines are subject to change and may differ across sources. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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