The loading of fuel assemblies into the core of unit 1 of the Sanmen nuclear power plant in China's Zhejiang province began today following the issuance of a permit by the country's nuclear regulator. The unit is later this year expected to become the first AP1000 to enter operation.

China's National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) issued the permit after Sanmen 1 successfully completed all the necessary functional tests, as well as technical, safety and Chinese regulatory reviews. 

In a statement the NNSA said that, before the first loading of materials, it had conducted a six-year safety review of the Sanmen 1 project and dispatched on-site supervisors for the entire construction process. The project meets the design safety goals and the construction quality is good, it added.

The loading of the first of 157 fuel assemblies into the core of Sanmen 1 began promptly.

The fuel loading process will be followed by initial criticality, initial synchronisation to the electricity grid, and gradual power ascension testing, until all testing is safely and successfully completed at 100% power.