A view of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station in South China's Guangdong Province File Photo: CFP

As of Thursday, unit 1 of Ling’ao Nuclear Power Plant of China General Nuclear has achieved 6,000 days of continuous safe operation, setting an international record for reactors of the same type, according to a statement sent to the Global Times.

Daya Bay Nuclear Power Base has a total of six megawatt-class nuclear power units at Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant and Ling’ao Nuclear Power Plant, which have been operating safely and stably since the first unit was put into commercial operation in 1994.

The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) index is an important international indicator to measure the safety level of nuclear generation. Over the past three years, the average WANO index of the six units has reached the world advanced level of 77.8 percent, maintaining its top position in global ranking.

Jiang Xinghua, chairman of Daya Bay Nuclear Power Operations and Management Co., said in the statement that unit 1 of Ling’ao Nuclear Power Plant has been in continuous safe operation for 6,000 days, 60 months ahead of a French unit, remaining the world’s top ranked nuclear power facility for nine consecutive years. 

“Daya Bay Nuclear Power will grasp the primary task of high-quality development, continue to deepen the level of operation and management, striving to build the company into a benchmark in the world of nuclear power operation,” Jiang noted.

Nuclear power is a safe, reliable and economical low-carbon energy source. Since the 29th anniversary of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Base’s commissioning, data showed that the level of radioactivity in the surrounding environment has remained unchanged against recordings taken before the plant entered operation. The base’s 10 square kilometers of land area is rich in wildlife, and the 11 kilometers of winding coastline provides a harbor for precious corals to live in.

Since the first unit was put into commercial operation in 1994, as of December 31, 2022, the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Base has accumulated 892.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, reducing standard coal consumption by 269 million tons and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 740 million tons, which is equivalent to planting over two million hectares of forest.

Of the plant’s generated power, 298.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity is delivered to Hong Kong, accounting for a quarter of Hong Kong’s total electricity consumption, providing a continuous supply of clean electricity for the economic and social development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.


Global Times