Westinghouse: Containment-vessel testing at Chinese plant finished

Westinghouse Electric Co. said it recently completed testing on a containment vessel to be used at the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant, currently under construction in the Shandong Province of China.

The company said testing was conducted between Nov. 30 and Dec. 9. The process consisted of tests for structural integrity and a leak rate. Both tests evaluated whether the unit met industrial standards and could prevent radioactive leaks in an emergency situation. Westinghouse said the tests showed that the vessel meets construction, design and safety standards. The company said the tests were completed ahead of schedule and that results are expected to be released in early 2016.

“The containment-vessel pressure testing is another significant milestone in the delivery of one of the world’s first AP1000 nuclear power plants and confirms the integrity of the containment-vessel structure,” Jeff Benjamin, Westinghouse's senior vice president for new plants and major projects, said. "Westinghouse and our delivery partners remain on a clear path to project completion.”

Westinghouse currently has four AP1000 reactors under construction in China, two at Haiyang and two at the Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant in the Zhejiang Province.