The first Hualong One nuclear power unit in south China's Hainan Province -- Unit 3 of the Phase II Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant -- was connected to the grid on Saturday, officially generating the first kilowatt-hour of electricity.
Developed by China Huaneng Group, the project's power generation marks a major step forward in acquiring the ability to put the unit of third generation nuclear reactor technology into operation.
Next, the unit will carry out efficiency increase and a series of performance tests as planned.
"The project plans to build two 1.2-million-kilowatt nuclear power units, expected to generate 18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually once completed. This will save some 6.3 million tons of standard coal a year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 11.6 million tons, effectively ensuring energy security and helping achieve China's dual carbon goals," said He Qingwei, a senior operator of Phase II Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant.
China has set the dual carbon goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.
Hainan's 1st Hualong One nuclear power unit connected to grid
The U.S. Department of Defense plans to spend more than 10 billion dollars to purchase air defense and interceptor missiles, and several billion dollars more to purchase various other types of missiles, according to a Bloomberg report on Friday.
According to the report, documents drafted by the U.S. Department of Defense and submitted to the defense committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives indicate that these funds will be used to procure 5.75 billion dollars’ worth of THAAD interceptor missiles and 5.57 billion dollars’ worth of Patriot missile segment enhancements. The procurement list also includes 1.9 billion dollars’ worth of Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) and 1.3 billion dollars' worth of Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as 692 million dollars for the procurement of precision-strike missiles, which was used for the first time in the war with Iran.
The report said that as U.S. forces struck Iran and intercepted its drone and missile attacks against U.S. bases in the Middle East, concerns are rising about the weapons stockpiles. U.S. lawmakers, defense officials, and analysts have stated that the current US weapons stockpiles are at dangerously low levels.
CBS News, citing U.S. military and intelligence officials, reported earlier this month that the rapid depletion of U.S. air defense interceptors and precision-guided weapons during the U.S.-Iran conflict had raised concerns within the U.S. government.
Pentagon plans to spend over 10 bln dollars on missile purchase
