China approves 11 new reactors

Wednesday, 21 August 2024

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said Phase I of its Xuwei plant in Jiangsu project will be "the world's first to couple a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor with a pressurised water reactor". The plant will mainly supply industrial heating in addition to electricity. The project plans to build two Hualong One pressurised water reactors and one high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. The project will be equipped with a steam heat exchange station, which will adopt the heat-to-electricity operation mode for the first time.

The desalinated water will be heated by the primary steam of the Hualong One units to prepare saturated steam, and the primary steam of the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor will be used to heat the saturated steam for the second time.

"After completion, it will have both high-quality steam supply and power generation capabilities under the designed operating conditions," CNNC said. "After the project is completed and put into operation, it will supply 32.5 million tonnes of industrial steam annually, with a maximum power generation of more than 11.5 billion kilowatt-hours, which can reduce the use of standard coal by 7.26 million tonnes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 19.6 million tonnes each year.

China General Nuclear (CGN) controlled companies have received approval to construct two Hualong One reactors as units 1 and 2 of the Zhaoyuan plant in Shandong province; two CAP1000 reactors as units 1 and 2 of the Lufeng plant in Guangdong province; and two Hualong Ones as units 3 and 4 of the San'ao plant in Zhejiang province. The company noted that Zhaoyuan Phase I "is the group's first nuclear power project in Shandong and its tenth nuclear power base".

"Currently, the company is carrying out various preparatory work for the construction of the above-mentioned units in an orderly manner, the full construction of which will begin when the Permit for Nuclear Power Station Construction has been obtained from the National Nuclear Safety Administration," CGN said in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

In addition, State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) has been given approval for the construction of two CAP1000 pressurised water reactors as the first phase of the Bailong nuclear power plant. An investment of about CNY40 billion (USD5.6 billion) is planned for the two units, which are expected to take 56 months to construct. The company noted it is the first nuclear power plant developed by SPIC in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Four CAP1400 reactors are also planned to be built at the site in later phases.

From 2019 to 2023, the number of new reactors approved in China was six, four, five, 10 and 10 respectively, "showing an overall positive, safe and orderly development momentum", state-run China Energy News reported.

At its 19 August meeting, the State Council said that safety is the "lifeline" of nuclear power development. "We must continuously improve the level of nuclear power safety technology and risk prevention capabilities, strengthen safety supervision throughout the entire chain and in all areas, ensure that nuclear power is absolutely safe, and promote the long-term and healthy development of the industry," it said.

According to World Nuclear Association figures, China currently has 56 operable reactors with a total capacity of 54.3 GW. A further 30 reactors, with a total capacity of 32.5 GW, are under construction.