China’s giant nuclear power operator, China National Nuclear Corp, has reported that Unit 2 of its Fuqing nuclear power plant, in Fujian province, has been connected to the grid as of Aug 6, a sign that it can begin commercial operation, after a test run.

Work on Unit 2 began in September 2009, in Sanshan county, near the coastal city of Fuqing, a suitable place for the power plant, which has an installed capacity of 108.9 MW.

The operator says that Unit 1 began operations in July 2014 and was connected to the grid the following month and began commercial operation that November. Units 1 - 4 use second-generation nuclear technology with improvements and safety features especially in view of Japan’s Fukushima crisis. The plant will eventually house six Chinese pressurized water reactors.

Units 1 and 2 were built with an equipment localization rate of about 75 percent, while Units 3 and 4 will have a localization rate of no less than 80 percent, with Unit 3 going operational later this year, and Unit 4 scheduled to start up in 2017.

The 6 Fuqing units cost around 17-billion yuan and can generate a total of 45-billion kWh a year, which will make better use of China’s energy mix and drive economic development in Fujian province.

Units 5 and 6 employ China’s third generation of nuclear power based on Hualong 1, a pilot project.