The No. 2 generating unit of the second phase project at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant was formally put into commercial operation at 1:15 am on May 3. To date, China's first self-designed, constructed and managed and self-run large nuke power plant for commercial use has been completed, which is a leap from home-made small-size prototype reactor to large commercial nuclear plant.

Key project of the national eighth Five-Year Plan, the second stage of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant started on June 2, 1996 with a designed capacity of two 600, 000-KW pressurized water reactors, an influx of 14.8 billion yuan and an expectancy of 40 years.

One of the four nuke power plants kicked off during the ninth Five-Year Plan period, the second phase of Qinshan plant was jointly invested by six enterprises including China National Nuclear Corporation. China made itself 47 of the 55 large core parts.

(People's Daily May 11, 2004)