China marks fifth anniversary of CANDU plant
Hailed by China's President Hu Jintao as a "model for Canada-China cooperation" and the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken between Canada and China, the Qinshan Phase III power plant incorporates two 728 Mwe CANDU 6 pressurized heavy-water reactors designed and built by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).
AECL, along with its Canadian and international partners and TQNPC, completed the power plant 112 days ahead of schedule and 10.6 per cent under budget.
"The Qinshan Phase III nuclear power plant project is a tremendous example of our CANDU project management model of on-time, on-budget delivery," said AECL's President, CANDU Reactor Division, Dr. Ken Petrunik, speaking at the anniversary celebration in Beijing.
"It was at Qinshan that we pioneered new, integrated electronic engineering tools and open-top construction techniques - both of which greatly streamlined and reduced our construction schedule," stated Dr. Petrunik.
On-time, on-budget delivery is critical to the success of the global nuclear industry as plans for new nuclear builds continue to grow.
"Countries interested in nuclear power should look to the Third Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant as the model for successful construction and operation of a nuclear facility," said Dr. Petrunik as he presented TQNPC officials with a congratulatory award. "The Qinshan units have repeatedly achieved record capacity factors resulting in a significant amount of clean, safe electricity generation."
Dr. Petrunik added, "In preparing for future projects, the skills and expertise gained by AECL during the construction of the Qinshan project provide a solid foundation for deployment of our new ACR-1000."
Related News

Utilities commission changes community choice exit fees; what happens now in San Diego?
SAN DIEGO - The California Public Utilities Commission approved an increase on the exit fees charged to customers who take part in Community Choice Aggregation -- government-run alternatives to traditional utilities like San Diego Gas & Electric.
After reviewing two competing exit fee proposals, all five commissioners voted Thursday in favor of an adjustment that many CCA advocates predicted could hamper the growth of the community choice movement.
But minutes after the vote was announced, one of the leading voices in favor of the city San Diego establishing its own CCA said the decision was good news because it provides some regulatory…