12 Jun (NucNet): A Chinese nuclear energy company has signed a memorandum of cooperation with state-owned Italian company Sogin, in what it said was a step towards decommissioning nuclear facilities and managing radioactive waste.
The memorandum confirms the intentions of China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and Sogin, which specialises in environmental remediation of nuclear sites and radioactive waste, to cooperate on a series of projects.
Sogin said in a statement that potential projects covered by the memorandum include a study on the costs of decommissioning, the removal of spent nuclear fuel from CGN nuclear stations, cooperation on radioactive waste management in China, and research into the conditioning and treatment of radioactive waste.
“The memorandum will allow both companies to have profound cooperation, particularly in the decommissioning of nuclear facilities and the management of radioactive waste,” a CGN statement said.
CGN, formerly China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group, said the move is in line with the Chinese government’s policy to encourage domestic companies in the nuclear power industry to improve international cooperation.
CGN, one of China’s biggest nuclear power companies, operates four nuclear power stations with 10 reactor units at Daya Bay, Ling Ao, Hongyanhe and Ningde. The company said it has another 13 units under construction.
