After being manufactured and delivered in Kobe, Japan, in October 2011 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Areva said the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for the 1,650 MW Taishan 1 EPR reactor has been shipped on-time to China.

After some storing time on site, the next step will consist of introducing the RPV in the reactor building of Unit 1 before completing its installation in the reactor pit.

The RPV introduction will be the next major milestone for the Taishan EPR project, after the successful dome installation of Unit 1 last October. Two Areva EPRs are currently being constructed at Taishan. Unit 1 is expected to be complete in 2013 with Unit 2 expected to come online in 2014

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