China's debut Westinghouse reactor delayed until June 2017

The world's first Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactor will go into operation in June next year, more than three years behind the original schedule, the head of China's leading state nuclear project developer said.

"We are forecasting that if everything goes smoothly, the first unit will go into operation in June 2017, and the second unit at the end of 2017," said Sun Qin, the chairman of the China National Nuclear Corporation.

"Construction has been delayed three years. At first we planned on December 2013 but there was just no way, with key pieces of equipment not available," he said.

The "third-generation" reactor, designed by the U.S.-based Westinghouse, has been plagued by delays brought about by design flaws and problems with key components. Sun said new coolant pumps for the two reactor units only arrived at the end of last year.

A rival third-generation design, the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), has faced similar problems, with projects in France, Finland and China all delayed.