As the first nuclear power unit launched during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) for national socioeconomic development, construction of the Xuwei Nuclear Power Plant started in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province on Friday.

It stands as the world's first project integrating the Hualong One pressurized water reactor with a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor.

This facility not only generates electricity but also supplies high-quality steam.

The main construction phase began on Friday, with the first major task being the concrete pouring for No.1 nuclear power unit.

Construction of the project is planned in two phases, with the current construction being Phase I which involves building two Hualong One units and one high-temperature gas-cooled reactor unit.

The project will see the installation of two Hualong One units which employ China's fully independently developed third-generation nuclear power technology and one high-temperature gas-cooled reactor which uses the fourth-generation nuclear power technology.

Once the project is put into operation, seawater will undergo desalination before being heated by the Hualong One units to produce medium-pressure saturated steam with the temperature exceeding 270 degrees Celsius.

The steam is then reheated using heat from the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, raising its temperature to beyond 460 degrees Celsius.

This high-quality industrial steam will be supplied to chemical enterprises in Xuwei New District of Lianyungan.

Upon the entry into operation of Phase I, the project will annually supply 32.5 million tonnes of industrial steam and generate over 11.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity.

This will reduce annual standard coal consumption by 7.26 million tonnes and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 19.6 million tonnes.

It will not only support low-carbon development in Lianyungang's petrochemical base but also advance China's nuclear energy transition from power generation to diversified supply.

Phase I is projected to start operation in 2032.

The Hualong One is a Chinese Generation III pressurized water nuclear reactor developed by the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

It has obtained European Utility Requirements certification and passed the UK Generic Design Assessment. Each unit generates over 10 billion kilowatt-hours annually -- enough to power one million people in a moderately developed country -- while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 8.16 million tonnes.