China's first Hualong One third-generation nuclear reactor marked 1,000 days of continuous operation on Wednesday, during which it has supplied more than 37 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to the grid.

This reactor, located at the Fuqing nuclear power plant in Fujian province, has been online since August 2022. A single Hualong One unit can generate up to 10 billion kilowatt-hours per year, which is sufficient to meet the annual power needs of a city of one million people in a moderately developed country. Additionally, it avoids approximately 8.16 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, according to its management.

"Achieving 1,000 days of uninterrupted, safe operation for the world's first Hualong One unit signifies that our nuclear technology has evolved from follower to leader, with operational performance now sustainably proven," said Zhu Jingang, deputy director of Fuqing nuclear phase III. He added that Hualong One will play an increasingly important role in China's new energy system, helping to secure the nation's energy supply.