The first concrete for the basemat of the second Hualong One unit at the Zhaoyuan nuclear power plant was poured on September 5. This pour involved approximately 8,800 cubic meters of concrete and was completed over a period of about 60 hours. The construction of this unit is being undertaken by China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Corp (CNECC), a subsidiary of 
China National Nuclear Corporation.
The Zhaoyuan plant project, located in China, is being constructed and operated by Shandong Zhaoyuan Nuclear Power Company, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear (CGN). This project represents CGN's initial nuclear power venture in Shandong. The plant is designed to eventually accommodate six Hualong One units, with a total investment estimated at CNY120 billion (USD16.9 billion).
Construction of Phase I, encompassing units 1 and 2 of the Zhaoyuan plant, received approval from China's State Council in August 2024. The first concrete for unit 1 was poured in November 2025. Each unit is anticipated to begin generating power within 50 to 60 months following the start of its construction.
Upon full completion, the Zhaoyuan plant is expected to have a total installed capacity of 7.2 GWe and generate 50 TWh of electricity annually. This output is projected to meet the yearly electricity needs of approximately five million people. CGN estimates that this will lead to an annual reduction of about 15.27 million tonnes in standard coal consumption and a decrease of approximately 46.2 million tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions.
A notable feature of the Zhaoyuan plant is the implementation of secondary circulation large-scale seawater cooling systems, marking their first application at a nuclear power plant in China. Each unit will incorporate a 203-meter-high natural draft cooling tower for water collection, featuring a water-spraying area of 16,800 square meters. This design shifts the conventional island's direct cooling source from the ocean to the atmosphere.