At 4:48 on June 30, the world's first AP1000 nuclear power unit of Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant in Zhejiang Province was connected to the grid successfully, paving the way to going into commercial operation in near future. So far, all technical indicators meet the designed requirements and the unit is running in sound status.

The Sanmen NPP Unit 1 began to load fuel for the first time on April 25 and achieved first criticality of PWR on June 21, as well as the steam turbine reached rated speed for the first time on June 27. Before connecting to power grid, Unit 1 had completed all tests. Next, Unit 1 will enter the stage of on-load pilot run and continue to take tests for official commercial operation.

The AP1000 nuclear power technology was introduced by State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC), the subsidiary of State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), from the U.S. Westinghouse. Based on the AP1000, SNPTC is authorized to improve and develop the third generation nuclear reactor technology with its own intellectual-property rights. The Sanmen Project is constructed by SNPTC. Since its commencement of construction in April 2009, SNPTC has solved various problems in equipment development and construction, and made substantial progress. The AP1000 passive design concept and the construction quality of the project have been highly affirmed by nuclear authorities in China and International Atomic Energy Agency. The successful construction of Sanmen NPP Project is an important achievement and a key step in the development of China's third-generation nuclear power technology.

At present, there are four AP1000 units under construction or test in China, two in Sanmen and the other two in Haiyang, Shandong Province. On June 21, AP1000 Unit 1 in Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant implemented the first fuel loading.

In 2006, China made the decision to introduce AP1000 nuclear power technology and develop its own third-generation nuclear power projects. SNPTC which undertook the leading mission to develop AP1000 projects has overcome a number of difficulties in the designing, manufacturing and constructing of AP1000 PWR Technology Project. Finally, SNPTC turned AP1000 from the blueprint into practice. It also realizes homemaking of a series of key equipment of AP1000 and successfully develops the CAP1400 nuclear power technology with complete independent intellectual property rights, which boosts a leap of China’s nuclear power industry.