China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) has officially launched the Generation III CAP1400 reactor design following 12 years of research and development.

The 1,400 MW design, also known as Guohe One, is intended for deployment both in China and overseas, SPIC said. It is China’s second indigenous Generation III reactor design, following the HPR1000, or Hualong One.

According to International Atomic Energy Agency statistics there are seven Hualong One units under construction in China at the Fuqing, Taipingling, Zhangzhou and Fangchenggang nuclear stations. There are two Hualong One units under construction at Kanupp in Pakistan. These are the first of their type being built outside China.

The CAP1400 is based on the Westinghouse AP1000 design, but developed by the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) with input from Westinghouse.