Two Areva-designed nuclear reactors under construction at the Taishan nuclear plant in China are scheduled to begin operations in 2017.
Unit 1 construction is complete and testing has started in preparation for commercial operations in the first half of 2017, according to Bloomberg Business. Unit 2 is in the “equipment installation” stage and is expected to start operations in the second half of 2017.
The plant uses two European Pressurized Reactors that are three years behind schedule. Areva found weak spots in the bottom and lid of the EPR’s reactor vessel that is under construction in France. French nuclear regulators said a similar forging technique used at the French reactor was also used in the Taishan reactors and the two set for Hinkley Point C in the UK.
