China’s Nuclear Construction Boom – Tracking 53 Reactors Under Development

China is building more nuclear reactors than the rest of the world combined. As of mid-2026, the country has 53 approved or under-construction reactors with a total capacity of 62.93 GW — a scale that has kept it at the top of global nuclear construction rankings for 19 consecutive years.

For overseas engineering firms, equipment suppliers, and financial institutions, this pipeline represents billions of dollars in potential business. But to participate effectively, you need to understand where the projects are, what technologies they use, and who is building them.

This article provides a clear, data-driven overview of China’s nuclear construction boom — the numbers, the key projects, the technical innovations, and the commercial opportunities that come with them.

1. The Numbers — 53 Reactors, 62.93 GW Scale

According to the China Nuclear Power Development Report 2026, published by the National Energy Administration, China’s nuclear construction pipeline stands at:

Breaking it down further:

• 35 reactors are actively under construction, with a combined capacity of 41.78 GW.
• 18 reactors have received official approval and are awaiting the start of construction, totalling 21.15 GW.

China’s total installed nuclear capacity — including both operational and under‑construction units — reached 125 GW by the end of 2025, making it the largest nuclear fleet in the world by total scale. The country operates 60 commercial reactors as of early 2026, ranking second globally in operational units behind the United States.

The pace of approvals has been remarkable. During the 14th Five‑Year Plan period (2021‑2025), China approved 46 nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 54.5 GW. In 2025 alone, 10 reactors were approved. The 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030) has started with 8 reactors approved in July 2026, and industry observers expect the annual approval pace to remain at around 10 units per year.

2. The Technology Mix — Hualong One Dominates Tech

China’s nuclear construction pipeline is built on two indigenous third‑generation pressurized water reactor (PWR) designs: Hualong One and Guohe One (CAP1400).

🔹 Hualong One — The Workhorse

Hualong One is China’s flagship third‑generation PWR, developed jointly by CNNC and CGN. It now accounts for 62% of all approved/under‑construction reactors — a total of 33 units.

As of August 2026, 10 Hualong One units are in commercial operation in China and overseas (including Pakistan), with another 37 approved or under construction globally. This makes Hualong One the most widely deployed third‑generation reactor series in the world.

🔹 Hualong One 2.0 — The Upgrade

In July 2026, China approved the first Hualong One 2.0 demonstration projects — at Jinqimen Phase II (Zhejiang) and Taipingling Phase III (Guangdong). These four reactors incorporate operational feedback from existing Hualong One units and feature optimised active and passive safety systems, intelligent control, and modular construction technologies. The result: reduced construction workload and improved safety, economics, and operational efficiency.

🔹 Guohe One (CAP1400) — The New Standard

Guohe One is China’s other indigenous third‑generation PWR, developed by State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC). It is an enlarged version of the CAP1000, which itself was derived from the Westinghouse AP1000.

The Laiyang Nuclear Power Plant in Shandong — approved in July 2026 as part of the 15th Five‑Year Plan’s first batch — will feature two Guohe One units as its initial phase. This marks the first standardised batch project for Guohe One technology following the demonstration project at Rongcheng. Each unit has a capacity of 1,543 MWe, making them the largest single‑unit reactors independently designed in China. The full Laiyang site is planned for six Guohe One units, with a total investment of approximately 128.3 billion yuan.

3. Key Projects — A Construction Map Locations

China’s nuclear construction is concentrated along the eastern and southern coastlines, with new sites being developed in the north as well. Here are the major projects currently in the pipeline:

In addition to these, several other sites are in various stages of construction or preparation, including units at Ningde (Fujian), Lufeng (Guangdong), Xudabao (Liaoning), and the Linglong One SMR in Hainan.

4. 2026 Progress — New Approvals and Milestones Updates

The year 2026 has been a busy one for China’s nuclear construction sector. Here are the key developments:

🔹 July 2026: Eight New Reactors Approved

On July 31, 2026, the State Council approved four new nuclear projects comprising eight reactors:

• Jinqimen Phase II (Zhejiang) — 2 × Hualong One 2.0 (demonstration project)
• Taipingling Phase III (Guangdong) — 2 × Hualong One 2.0 (demonstration project)
• Zhuanghe Phase I (Liaoning) — 2 × Hualong One
• Laiyang Phase I (Shandong) — 2 × Guohe One (first batch project)

The total investment for these projects is estimated at over 170 billion yuan (approximately US$24 billion). This was the first approval batch of the 15th Five‑Year Plan period and continues China’s annual approval pace of around 10 reactors per year.

🔹 Construction Milestones in 2026

Several projects have reached significant milestones:

• Tianwan Unit 7 (VVER‑1200) — fuel loading completed in August 2026, entering the commissioning phase.
• Taipingling Unit 4 — first concrete poured in May 2026, marking the start of full‑scale construction.
• Bailong Unit 2 (CAP1000) — first concrete for the conventional island poured in August 2026.
• Lianjiang Unit 1 (CAP1000) — outer containment dome completed, transitioning from civil construction to equipment installation.
• Xuwei Unit 1 (Hualong One) — first steel containment module lifted in March 2026, starting modular construction.

According to the China Nuclear Energy Development Report 2026, seven reactors are scheduled to be completed and connected to the grid by the end of 2026.

5. Construction Innovations — Building Faster, Smarter Tech

China’s ability to build reactors at such scale and speed is underpinned by continuous innovation in construction techniques. Here are some of the key technologies being deployed:

These innovations have reduced construction timelines significantly. The average build time for a Chinese nuclear reactor has fallen from around 8‑9 years a decade ago to 5‑7 years today — among the fastest in the world.

6. What This Means for Overseas Businesses Opportunities

China’s nuclear construction boom creates significant opportunities for international businesses across multiple sectors:

Major Chinese nuclear contractors include:

• China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) — leads in reactor development, fuel fabrication, and turnkey construction
• China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) — co‑develops Hualong One and operates multiple construction projects
• State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) — leads Guohe One (CAP1400) development and construction
• China Huaneng Group — leads HTGR (fourth‑generation) development

7. Due Diligence — Verifying Chinese Nuclear Construction Partners Compliance

With so many projects and players, verifying the credentials of Chinese nuclear construction partners is essential. The stakes are high: nuclear projects involve billions of dollars, complex technology, and strict regulatory oversight.

The NNSA maintains a dynamic credit database of nuclear‑grade equipment suppliers, and all companies participating in domestic nuclear construction must register and submit declarations of no major quality accidents in the past three years.

At ChinaBizInsight, we help international clients verify Chinese companies, retrieve official registration documents, and conduct comprehensive due diligence — whether you’re evaluating a prime contractor, a subcontractor, or a potential joint venture partner.

Final Takeaway

China’s nuclear construction boom is the largest and most sustained in history. With 53 reactors in the pipeline, 35 under active construction, and a steady approval pace of around 10 units per year, the country is building the nuclear infrastructure of the future — at a scale and speed unmatched anywhere else.

For international businesses, this represents significant opportunities across engineering, equipment supply, legal advisory, and financing. But success requires understanding the landscape, identifying the right partners, and conducting thorough due diligence. With the right information and the right approach, the opportunities are immense.