China: First concrete poured for second Taishan EPR™ reactor

First concrete of the second Taishan EPR™ reactor to be constructed, Guangdong province in southern China, has been poured by the Chinese utility CGNPC.

Around 9000 cubic meters of concrete, poured continuously by seven pumps, were necessary to make the pre-reinforced Reactor Building slab, measuring 55 meters in diameter.

On November 26, 2007, AREVA and CGNPC signed a series of agreements worth an overall €8 billion to construct two third-generation EPR™ reactors, as well as supply all necessary equipment and services, and create an engineering joint-venture. The two reactors are expected to be commissioned in late 2013 and 2014, respectively. This makes Taishan 1 and 2 the third and fourth EPR™ reactors to begin construction worldwide, after Olkiluoto 3 in Finlande and Flamanville 3 in France.

AREVA has been present in China for more than 20 years, and has thirty local offices and production sites. The group employs 3400 people in the country, and has participated in building 11 of China’s 17 nuclear plants.