At 3:57 a.m. on September 21, 2018, Sanmen NPP Unit 1 with the World’s First AP1000 Reactor passed the 168 hours continuous operation test at full power, which indicated that the unit was ready for commercial operation.

On March 29, 2009, the first tank of concrete was poured directly for Sanmen NPP Unit 1. The unit was first loaded on April 25, 2018. On June 21, 2018, the reactor first reached its critical point. On June 30, 2018, the unit was first connected to the grid successfully. On August 14, 2018, the unit first reached its full power operation.

Phase I of Sanmen NPP is a self-reliant project of China’s Gen III NP, for which AP1000 nuclear power technology was adopted from US Westinghouse. SNPTC was responsible for the introduction, assimilation and self-reliant innovation of the technology, and took overall responsibility for the nuclear island. The project was constructed and operated by China National Nuclear Corporation. Since the commencement of work, SNPTC has been adhering to the principle of “safety first, quality first” to solve various problems during the equipment development and construction. The successful construction of Sanmen NPP is a milestone for China’s Gen III NP development, which will strongly promote the industrialization of China’s independent passive nuclear power technology.

So far, the other three units (Sanmen Unit 2, Haiyang Units 1 and 2) of the AP1000 Gen III NP self-reliant program have entered into unclear operation. Among them, Haiyang NPP Unit 1 was first connected to the grid on August 17, which was held, invested constructed and operated by SPIC. On August 8, Haiyang NPP Unit 2 was loaded for the first time; on August 24, Sanmen NPP Unit 2 was first connected to the grid, which was constructed and operated by China National Nuclear Corporation.