China produces first AP1000 steam generator

China's latest steam generator passed its final tests on Wednesday afternoon, a milestone for China's nuclear power industry.

The generator weighs 620 tonnes and is a key part of AP1000, a third generation nuclear power technology, said Gao Feng, deputy chief engineer of Harbin Electric Corporation (Qinhuangdao) Heavy Equipment Company Limited.

China has officially adopted AP1000 as a standard for inland nuclear projects.

Construction began on the generator in March, 2011. It has a designed life span of 60 years and can cool itself for 72 hours in case of a power failure, said Gao.

Currently 19 nuclear reactors are in operation and 29 are under construction in China.