A vital piece of equipment - the containment vessel top head (CVTH) - at the Sanmen nuclear power plant Unit 1 was successfully set on Jan 29, Westinghouse Electric Company announced.

The installation of the device is a significant step in the Sanmen nuclear project, the first AP1000 nuclear power plant in the world, according to the company.

Made up of steel plates, the CVTH was installed using a large-capacity crane. Before the top head could be set, many pieces of equipment had to be produced, tested and placed inside the containment vessel, according to the company.

"We are confident that our delivery of the world's first AP1000 plants in China will demonstrate the many benefits of our technology and provide the citizens of China with safe, clean, reliable energy for generations to come," said Deva Chari, the company's senior vice-president for Nuclear Power Plant Project Delivery.

"We will continue to work closely with our partners and customers to achieve progress, which will move the project forward to a successful completion," Chari said.

In 2007, Westinghouse signed contracts to provide four AP1000 pressurized water reactors to China - two in Sanmen, Zhejiang province, and another pair in Haiyang, Shandong province.

Cooperation with China

Since the 1990s, Westinghouse has been playing an active role in China's nuclear energy industry.

The company's four major product lines- nuclear services, nuclear fuel, nuclear power plants, and nuclear automation - have all quickened their development pace here in China.

On June 8, 2012, Westinghouse commenced the startup of a new zirconium sponge plant production facility with its China joint-venture partner, the State Nuclear Baoti Zirconium Industry Ltd.

Under the cooperation, the State Nuclear WEC Zirconium Hafnium Co Ltd was established in Nantong, Jiangsu Province.

This joint venture facility will produce nuclear-grade zirconium, a key component of the tubing process used in nuclear fuel assembly operations.

On April 23, 2012, Westinghouse signed an agreement to establish a joint venture with Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co.

The Taiyuan-based new company, PaR - TZ Nuclear Company Ltd, will provide the assembly, testing and sale of new critical crane components and fuel-handling equipment, as well as the associated services and spare parts.

Most recently, Westinghouse signed an agreement with State Nuclear Power Automation System Engineering Company (SNPAS) that paves the way for the two companies to jointly provide instrumentation and control systems for future China AP1000 plants.

"Westinghouse is proud to build the safest and most advanced nuclear reactors here in China and other countries, while meeting the energy needs of China and other countries across the globe," said Jack Allen, president of Westinghouse Asia.

wangwendi@chinadaily.com.cn