12 Mar (NucNet): Nuclear power station operator China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) is in discussions with the UK and France about the possibility of building China’s Generation III ACP-1000 nuclear reactor design, also known as Hualong One, in the two countries, group chairman He Yu said.
In an interview posted online Mr He said the group is involved in “technical negotiations” with the UK and France and “relevant agreements” are expected to be signed this year. He did not give further details.
Mr He said China is planning to export its reactors to a number of countries, including Romania, Argentina, Turkey and South Africa.
China has chosen two sites, Fangchenggang in Guanxi province and Fuqing in Fujian province, as locations for construction of ACP-1000 units.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the state-owned corporation that oversees all aspects of China’s civilian and military nuclear programmes, has already said it intends to build the first ACP-1000 at Fuqing, where there is one Generation II CPR-1000 unit in commercial operation and three under construction.
CNNC is working in a 50:50 partnership with CGN on development of the ACP-1000. The design is based on CGN’s ACPR-1000, a more advanced version of CGN’s Generation II CPR-1000 and CNNC’s ACP-1000 designs.
In December 2014, the ACP-1000 passed an International Atomic Energy Agency generic reactor safety review, CNNC said.
In August 2014, CNNC said the ACP-1000 had passed a safety review which would allow the technology to be exported.
The ACP1000 is a 1,100 megawatt, three-loop pressurised water reactor. It has a combination of active and passive safety systems, a single stack layout, 177 nuclear fuel assemblies, a double containment structure, and comprehensive defence-in-depth design principles, CNNC said.
