FUZHOU -- The first power generation unit of the Zhangzhou nuclear power project in East China's Fujian province began commercial operations on Wednesday, according to China National Nuclear Corporation.

This marked a major step forward in the scaled construction of Hualong One, a domestically developed third-generation reactor, as China seeks to improve its energy mix and meet its dual carbon targets.

The Hualong One reactor meets the highest global safety standards and represents a major milestone in the country's innovative nuclear power development.

The Zhangzhou nuclear power project is designed to have six Hualong One nuclear power units.

A Hualong One nuclear power unit generates more than 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which can meet the annual production and domestic electricity demands of 1 million people in moderately developed countries. This is the equivalent of reducing standard coal consumption by 3.12 million tonnes annually and carbon dioxide emissions by 8.16 million tonnes per year.