The Taishan unit one reactor was connected to the grid on Friday at 17:59 Beijing time, the first EPR reactor in the world to be successfully connected to the grid, said China General Nuclear Power Group.

Taishan, the largest cooperative energy project between China and France, is operated by a joint venture established between China General Nuclear Power Group with a 51 percent stake, French energy company EDF with 30 percent and the provincial Chinese electricity company Yuedian with 19 percent.

The construction of Taishan unit one started in 2009, while that of Taishan unit two began in 2010. These two units were respectively the third and fourth reactors being built worldwide with EPR technology, or third-generation pressurized water reactor design.

The reactor will go through a period of gradual power-up tests after the unit's first connection to the grid. It will be tested in steady-state conditions at full power after the reactor has passed all the tests.

The Taishan project has the highest safety and quality standards, said CGN.