Aerial view of CGN's Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant
On August 26, a construction mobilization meeting was held for Phase III of CGN’s Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant. During the meeting, the Responsibility Letter for Safety and Quality in the Construction and Operation of Phase III of the Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant was unveiled. The initiative aims to further strengthen leadership accountability for nuclear project quality, ensure construction excellence, and guarantee that nuclear safety is upheld without compromise.
At the event, Zhang Guoqiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of CGN Huizhou Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., announced the official start of tunnel corridor construction for Phase III of the Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant. The corridor construction will enhance the efficiency of material transport and module lifting operations, create favorable conditions for the subsequent pouring of first nuclear island concrete and continuous construction, and lay a solid foundation for the high-quality commencement and uninterrupted progress of Phase III.
The Phase III project of the Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant was officially approved on July 31, 2026, following deliberation and approval at the State Council executive meeting. The project is the first nuclear power facility in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to adopt the Hualong One 2.0 technology solution. The Hualong One 2.0 is the next generation of indigenous third-generation nuclear power technology, representing a further innovative iteration that delivers comprehensive upgrades and quality improvements over the mature and proven Hualong One 1.0. It combines proven reliability, advanced safety features, cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and full intellectual property independence. The design retains the proven 177-fuel-assembly core and three-loop architecture, while incorporating an optimized combination of active and passive safety systems and an upgraded, enhanced containment structure. It offers exceptional safety capabilities, including high seismic resistance, protection against large commercial aircraft impact, and 72-hour autonomous operation without operator intervention—placing its nuclear safety risk indicators among the world’s most advanced. At the same time, through optimized system design and the application of advanced construction technologies, the project has effectively reduced construction timelines and costs, significantly improving economic viability—fully aligned with the national standards for large-scale, high-quality nuclear power development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
The Phase III project comprises two units, each with a rated capacity of approximately 1,200 MW and featuring 100% domestically manufactured equipment. Based on domestic nuclear power utilization levels in 2025, the two units are expected to generate over 17 billion kWh of electricity annually upon commissioning—enough to meet the annual production and living needs of nearly 2 million people.
In recent years, the construction of CGN’s Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant has proceeded at a steady and rapid pace. The project is planned to comprise six Hualong One units built across three phases. Phase I received approval on April 8, 2019, with Unit 1 commencing commercial operation on April 19, 2026, and Unit 2 following on August 3, 2026—marking the full completion of the first phase. Phase II was approved on December 29, 2023, with main construction work on Units 3 and 4 beginning in 2025 and 2026 respectively, and the project is now in the peak stage of civil construction.
Reported by: XIE Baoshu, ZENG Xiaochun
