Introduction  Under the current practice of benchmarking on-grid electricity price for newly-built new nuclear power units, in order to effectively address the problems of excessively high construction cost of domestic nuclear power projects and insufficient attention to the economy of nuclear power, combining the reality of general uncompetitive domestic nuclear power on-grid electricity price in the electricity market, in order to reduce the construction cost of the Zhangzhou nuclear power project and further increase the competitiveness of the on-grid electricity price for Zhangzhou nuclear power project.

  Methods  The comprehensive analysis of the construction cost for domestic nuclear power projects was made, the construction cost lean management in the preliminary stage of Zhangzhou nuclear power project was put forward. Combining the actual situation of Zhangzhou nuclear power project, the analysis of specific methods and measures for implementing cost lean management was made, in the stages of the preliminary preparation, investment decision-making, management mode selection and so on. Firstly, the land and sea acquisition mode in the preliminary stage and the innovative practice of "two-phase" procurement mode. Secondly, the optimization of current nuclear power project construction management mode was adopted. Thirdly, the development of 1 000 MW-level nuclear power technology and economy model used for benchmarking and defining the principles and standards for cost control in the preliminary stage were discussed.Fourthly, the research and implementation of "integration of nuclear power and pumped-water storage" to ensure the competitiveness of on-grid price of nuclear power were discussed. Fifthly, the establishment of effective cost control mechanism for nuclear power projects and staff cost control culture were discussed.

  Results  The above lean management methods and measures can directly save a large amount of investment for the Zhangzhou nuclear power project in the preliminary stage, shorten the construction period of the Zhangzhou nuclear power project, reduce the construction cost of the nuclear power project, and further increase the competiveness of the on-grid electricity price for the Zhangzhou nuclear power project.

  Conclusion  The construction cost lean management in preliminary stage of Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Project is very effective, not only can improve subsequent competitiveness of on-grid electricity for Zhangzhou nuclear power project, but also reduce nuclear power construction cost and improve the economy of nuclear power .And the Zhangzhou nuclear power mode and experience can provide reference for the nuclear power industry.