Better than ever
China is also preparing to ship its largest nuclear export to date.
Nuclear technology is expected to become another exported product for China following the success of its high-speed railways, and various nuclear power groups are eager to go global and promote third-generation units with independent intellectual property rights.
Xing said that in 2013, CNNC sold two ACP1000 reactors to Pakistan, and the Pakistan program will begin construction by May. According to a nuclear power agreement signed by China and Argentina in February, the two countries agreed to appoint CNNC to execute their cooperation agreement.
According to a report by the Global Times website in April, China will export five nuclear reactors with Hualong One design to Pakistan with a value of $15 billion, which will represent the country's largest ever single nuclear export.
In keeping with its determination to go global, China has continued to serve its neighbors through cooperation in nuclear power construction.
According to Xing, CNNC has made progress in a nuclear project in Egypt, and the company is now negotiating for projects in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Singapore and Sudan, all of which are interested in China's Hualong One technology.
CGNPC chief designer Xian said the British Government has agreed to Chinese companies's participation in the construction of new nuclear projects in the country. Chinese companies may enter two projects: the Hinkley Point project will use EPR technology, a third-generation pressurized-water reactor design, and the Bradwell B project is likely to use the Hualong One design. CGNPC is also negotiating exports of nuclear technology to South Africa, Romania, Turkey, Czech and Poland.
According to CNECC chief economist Shu, their group is promoting industrial application of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and South Africa. In April, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with South Africa on nuclear power cooperation. It will soon sign an MOU with Saudi Arabia on nuclear power and renewable energy cooperation.
Xian said currently 85 percent of the equipment for reactors with Hualong One design has been developed by China; and after the technology is widely used, at least 95 percent of the equipment will be supplied by Chinese companies.
One thing is clear—China has resumed its nuclear production in full force and hopes to make a global impact.
