Changjiang Unit 4 control room brought into operation; Phase II units 3 and 4 nearing commissioning timeline

Unit 4 commissioning milestone

A ceremony on 31 July marked the launch of operation of the main control room for Changjiang unit 4, according to China National Nuclear Corporation, which said it “marked a new stage in the commissioning and operation of unit 4.” The ceremony also referenced full commencement of operation and duty shifts in the main control room as an important milestone tied to project construction efforts across multiple participants and company departments.

Changjiang Phase II includes two Hualong One reactors, with unit 3 and unit 4 moving through civil works and commissioning steps that now include the control-room operating phase.

Construction status and commissioning progress for Phase II

First concrete for the unit 3 nuclear island base slab was poured in March 2021, followed by the unit 4 base slab in December 2021.

Changjiang unit 3 reached first criticality on 10 July and was connected to the grid on 1 August. Both Phase II units are scheduled to be fully operational in early 2027.

The Changjiang Phase II - units 3 and 4 - project is described as representing a total estimated investment of CNY40 billion (USD5.9 billion), with China Huaneng holding a 51% share in the project.

SMR work at the same site

Beyond the Phase II Hualong One units, the Changjiang nuclear site is also home to two operating CNP-600 pressurised water reactors, Changjiang 1 and 2, which entered commercial operation in 2015 and 2016.

In 2021, China National Nuclear Corporation began construction of a demonstration ACP100 small modular reactor at the site. The multi-purpose 125 MWe pressurised water design—also referred to as the Linglong One—covers electricity generation as well as heating, steam production, or seawater desalination, and it is currently undergoing pre-commissioning tests.

Basudev Hansdah brings long power O&M background to Maithon Power Limited CEO role

Power-sector career spanning commissioning, operations and maintenance

Basudev Hansdah has nearly three decades of experience across the power sector and is currently chief executive officer (CEO) of Maithon Power Limited. His background combines commissioning, operations, maintenance and business leadership.

Hansdah’s career began at Steel Authority of India Limited’s Rourkela steel plant, where he gained exposure to captive power plants, distribution systems and multi-unit operations. He later joined NTPC Talcher and managed the operations and maintenance of 67.5 MW and 110 MW units.

Following that, he held leadership roles within the Tata Power Group, where he led the commissioning and operation of major assets and executed critical power purchase and statutory agreements. He also served as CEO of Industrial Energy Limited and as chief of Jamshedpur Operations during 2024-25. Hansdah holds three patents to his credit.

Outlook for India’s energy mix and grid needs

Hansdah said his perspective on the Indian power sector remains optimistic, with the sector’s trajectory depending on balancing energy security, affordability and sustainability. He noted that renewable energy will continue to drive capacity additions.

At the same time, he argued that flexible thermal generation will remain essential to manage variability in renewable output. He also said nuclear power is expected to play an important role in strengthening the clean baseload segment.

Beyond generation, Hansdah highlighted how a changing geopolitical environment reinforces the need for a balanced domestic energy mix supported by renewables and emerging storage technologies. He pointed to technology trends—artificial intelligence, smart grids, automation and advanced forecasting—as tools improving system reliability and enabling more responsive grid management.

Constraints cited: integration, transmission and financial health

Despite these advances, Hansdah referenced several structural impediments, including grid integration challenges and transmission bottlenecks. He also cited the weak financial health of discoms and ageing infrastructure as key concerns.

He further noted rising load volatility, which increases the need for demand-side management, time-of-day tariffs and flexible generation assets.

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