Jan 6, 2025
Construction preparations start for a new factory in China.
Excavation has commenced for the groundwork of the nuclear island at unit 1 of the Bailong nuclear power plant, situated in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China.
The construction of Phase I, which includes units 1 and 2 of the Bailong plant, was part of the approvals for 11 new reactors authorized by China’s State Council in August last year. The State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) intends to construct two CAP1000 pressurized water reactors—China's adaptation of the Westinghouse AP1000—as the initial phase of the plant. Approximately CNY40 billion (USD5.6 billion) is projected to be invested in these two units, which are anticipated to take 56 months to complete.
SPIC's subsidiary, Guangxi Nuclear Power Company Ltd, stated that "the negative excavation of the nuclear island is a critical milestone in the development of nuclear energy, representing a significant advancement in the construction of the Bailong nuclear power plant."
The company mentioned that "vertical slope" construction technology, which entails "supporting first and then excavating," has been utilized for the foundation pit excavation of unit 1. As of November 25, a total of 137 cast-in-place piles for the foundation pit's retaining structure have been completed, with negative excavation initiating on December 30.
The excavation of approximately 66,000 cubic meters of earth to create the foundation pit—which will ultimately be 12.2 meters deep and span about 3000 square meters—is expected to be finalized by the end of March this year.
Once operational, Bailong units 1 and 2 are projected to generate around 20 billion kilowatt-hours annually, according to Guangxi Nuclear Power. This is expected to decrease the standard coal consumption by roughly 6 million tonnes and cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 16 million tonnes each year.
Future plans include the construction of four CAP1400 reactors at the site, which is located approximately 24 kilometers from the Vietnam border and about 30 kilometers southwest of China General Nuclear’s Fangchenggang nuclear power plant.
The construction of Phase I, which includes units 1 and 2 of the Bailong plant, was part of the approvals for 11 new reactors authorized by China’s State Council in August last year. The State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) intends to construct two CAP1000 pressurized water reactors—China's adaptation of the Westinghouse AP1000—as the initial phase of the plant. Approximately CNY40 billion (USD5.6 billion) is projected to be invested in these two units, which are anticipated to take 56 months to complete.
SPIC's subsidiary, Guangxi Nuclear Power Company Ltd, stated that "the negative excavation of the nuclear island is a critical milestone in the development of nuclear energy, representing a significant advancement in the construction of the Bailong nuclear power plant."
The company mentioned that "vertical slope" construction technology, which entails "supporting first and then excavating," has been utilized for the foundation pit excavation of unit 1. As of November 25, a total of 137 cast-in-place piles for the foundation pit's retaining structure have been completed, with negative excavation initiating on December 30.
The excavation of approximately 66,000 cubic meters of earth to create the foundation pit—which will ultimately be 12.2 meters deep and span about 3000 square meters—is expected to be finalized by the end of March this year.
Once operational, Bailong units 1 and 2 are projected to generate around 20 billion kilowatt-hours annually, according to Guangxi Nuclear Power. This is expected to decrease the standard coal consumption by roughly 6 million tonnes and cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 16 million tonnes each year.
Future plans include the construction of four CAP1400 reactors at the site, which is located approximately 24 kilometers from the Vietnam border and about 30 kilometers southwest of China General Nuclear’s Fangchenggang nuclear power plant.