Russian nuclear equipment export monopoly Atomstroyexport has started loading fuel at the second unit of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in eastern China, the company said today. "The loading began at 3:58 a.m. GMT. This means preparations have begun for the unit's launch," Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted a company spokesman saying. He said the unit is due to be launched in May. The first unit of the Tianwan NPP went on line in early January. Atomstroyexport is building the Tianwan NPP in eastern China's port city of Lianyungang. The plant, which is being built under a 1992 bilateral agreement, features improved VVER-1000 reactors and K-100-6/3000 turbo-generators. The first plant was connected to China's power grid in May 2006 and has since generated more than 800 million kW/h of electricity for the domestic industry. Atomstroyexport is currently building five nuclear reactor blocks for NPPs in China, India and Iran. In October 2006, the company won a tender to build a plant in Belene, Bulgaria. -- SPA
