The flushing process, using demineralised water, is designed to check everything has been installed correctly and remove impurities from pipelines, check pump sets, process safety systems and normal operation systems. Rosatom said that after it is completed reactor assembly will take place, and then testing of the reactor primary circuit and hot and cold trials.
According to a report published by the China Nuclear Energy Association, the coolant storage system pump was started at 09:19 on 19 January, marking the official start of the nuclear loop flushing work.
In June 2018, Russia and China signed four agreements, including for the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors as units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan plant. Construction of unit 7 began in May 2021, with that of unit 8 starting in February 2022. The units are scheduled to be commissioned in 2026-2027.
The Tianwan nuclear power plant is owned and operated by Jiangsu Nuclear Power Company, a joint venture between China National Nuclear Corporation (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).
