Nuclear Unit

monitoring airborne particles of 2.5 microns or less in diameter, which can penetrate deep into people’s lungs.

The metropolis also saw its average ozone concentration decreasing to 149 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021, marking the first time the readings for PM2.5 and ozone of the city reached the level-II national standard simultaneously.

The average concentrations of PM10, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide in Beijing were respectively 55, 26, and 3 micrograms per cubic meter last year, said Yu.

The city saw 288 days of good air quality last year, up by 112 days from 2013, and only eight days of heavy air pollution.

Heilongjiang is China’s major soybean production base, ranking first in the country in terms of both planted area and output.

China’s second nuclear power unit using Hualong One, a domestically designed thirdgeneration nuclear reactor, has begun generating electricity, paving the way for commercial operation.

The No. 6 unit in the city of Fuqing, Fujian Province, began operation and was connected to the power grid at 10:35 p.m. on January 1, according to the China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC).

On-site staff confirmed that the unit was in good condition, and all the technical indicators met the design requirements.

According to CNNC, every nuclear power unit using Hualong One has an installed capacity of 1.16 million kW. It is expected to generate nearly 10 billion kWh of electricity annually, equivalent to reduction of 3.12 million tons of standard coal consumption and 8.16 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Both the first Hualong One unit globally and the first unit overseas were put into commercial use in 2021, in Fuqing and Pakistan, respectively.