On April 30, Unit 3 of the Huaneng Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Phase II project received an operating license from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and commenced loading its first batch of nuclear fuel. This milestone signifies the start of the unit's initial nuclear-related testing and commissioning. This project is the first large-scale pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant to be majority-controlled and constructed by China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. It is also the first Hualong One nuclear power project in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The term "fuel loading" refers to the process of placing new nuclear fuel assemblies into the reactor pressure vessel. This is a critical step before a nuclear power unit can be connected to the grid and begin generating electricity. To ensure the complete safety and controllability of this first-ever fuel loading for the pressurized water reactor, Huaneng Changjiang Nuclear Power Company conducted multiple operational rehearsals based on the core's specific conditions. The company optimized procedures and performed comprehensive safety risk assessments, strictly upholding nuclear safety as the fundamental priority.

The Huaneng Changjiang Nuclear Power Phase II project utilizes China's independently developed third-generation Hualong One pressurized water reactor technology. The project plans to construct two nuclear power units, each with a capacity of 1.2 million kilowatts. Upon completion, the facility is expected to generate approximately 18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This output will lead to savings of about 6.326 million tons of standard coal per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 11.68 million tons annually. It represents the largest power engineering investment project since the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port.