Fuel loading begins at Sanmen nuclear power plant

China started fuel loading Westinghouse Electric Co's first next-generation nuclear reactor in Sanmen nuclear power plant in Zhejiang province on Wednesday night after getting government approval, China National Nuclear Corp and Westinghouse said in separate statements.

Fuel loading is a major milestone and one of the most important steps for the delayed project. Westinghouse has conducted 55 tests at Sanmen Unit 1 since last summer to ensure operational safety.

Considering the fact that the government has not approved construction of any new, non-demonstration reactors since 2015 and Sanmen Unit 1 is the first of this type of reactor, analysts said the fuel loading is a small step toward the first AP1000 in the world.