China’s first pilot nuclear power project using the HPR1000 reactor, with its first steel-lined module for the containment building of unit 5 of the Fuqing nuclear power plant, was in place, on Aug 16, according to the China Nuclear Engineering Corp (CNEC).

CNEC says that this marks an important step in the construction of the internal structure for the main plant containment. It went on to say that, when the first concrete for Fuqing 5 was poured on May 7, it marked the official start of construction work, and that the installation of the steel-lined module is a second milestone for the first of two HPR1000 units planned for the Fuqing plant in Fujian province. The modular construction approach has cut the project schedule for the nuclear island by at least 20 days.