China Civilian Nuclear Industry, Technology, Exports and Supply Chain: News & Discussions

[JSCh]

Vessel installed at second Pakistani Hualong One
06 September 2018
The pressure vessel for the Chinese-designed Hualong One reactor under construction as unit 3 of Pakistan's Karachi nuclear power plant has been hoisted into place.

The vessel is hoisted into place in Karachi 3's reactor building (Image: CNNC)​

The component was put into place within the unit's reactor building at 8:19am yesterday, China National Nuclear Corporation announced today. It said the milestone marked the unit's entry into the "full installation phase of key components".

The pressure vessel was independently designed by China Nuclear Power Research & Design Institute and was produced by China First Heavy Machinery Company Limited.

The installation of the pressure vessel followed that of the unit's three steam generators. CNNC noted that all four components had been installed within just 19 days, providing "a useful reference for the construction of other similar power stations".

The vessel and steam generators were all installed using CNNC's new method using an E-frame to "flip" the components. It said this method can improve efficiency and safety, as well as reducing labour intensity and reducing the chance of human error, compared with the traditional "fixed bracket" installation. The technique further improves the safety and economy of the "pre-introduction" construction method - where the main reactor equipment is installed before the dome of the containment building - which CNNC first used in a reactor of this type at Karachi 2.

Karachi 2 and 3 are the first export of China's Hualong One pressurised water reactor design, with construction of unit 2 beginning in 2015 and unit 3 in 2016. The units are scheduled for commercial operation in 2021 and 2022, respectively, when they will add a further 2322 MWe to Pakistan's existing nuclear generation capacity of 1355 MWe from five operating units: a small pressurised heavy water reactor at Karachi, and four Chinese-designed pressurised water reactors at Chashma. A third 1161 MWe Hualong One unit is planned for construction at Chashma.

Four Hualong One units - also known as HPR1000 - are under construction in China. Fanchenggang 3 and 4 and Fuqing 5 and 6 are all expected to enter commercial operation in 2019-2020.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

[JSCh]

CNNC completes design of district heating reactor
07 September 2018

The preliminary design of the Yanlong swimming pool-type low-temperature reactor for district heating has been completed, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced yesterday.

A model of the Yanlong reactor (Image: CNNC)​

CNNC launched its independently researched and developed Yanlong reactor (referred to as the DHR-400) for district heating in November 2017. The move came shortly after the "49-2" pool-type light-water reactor developed by the China Institute of Atomic Energy continuously supplied heat for 168 hours.

CNNC said the Yanlong reactor - which an output of 400 MWt - has been developed based upon the company's safe and stable operation of pool-type experimental reactors over the past 50 years. It said the Yanlong is a "safe, economical and green reactor product targeting the demand for heating in northern cities". The reactor can be operated under low temperatures and normal pressures. It can be constructed near urban areas due to the zero risk of a meltdown and lack of emissions. In addition, the reactor is easy to decommission. The Yanlong "represents a relatively modest investment", according to CNNC.

"It's an effective way to improve China's energy resource structure by utilising nuclear energy for district heating, and to ease the increasing pressures on energy supplies," CNNC said. "Nuclear energy heating could also reduce emissions, especially as a key technological measure to combat haze during winter in northern China. Thus, it can benefit the environment and people's health in the long run."

The company added, "It can be constructed either inner land or on the coast, making it an especially good fit for northern inland areas, and it has an expected lifespan of around 60 years. In terms of costs, the thermal price is far superior to gas, and is comparably economical with coal and combined heat and power (CHP)."

The Chinese government has made clean-energy heating a priority. Last year, the authorities issued guidance on clean heating in winter in northern China. The National Energy Administration released a five-year plan, covering 2017-2021, highlighting the innovation of clean heating technology and consideration of nuclear heating.

Research work in China on the possible application of nuclear heat began in the early 1980s. During 1983-1984, the Institute of Nuclear Energy and Technology (INET) at Tsinghua University used its existing pool-type test reactor to provide space heat for nearby buildings. Meanwhile two types of nuclear heating reactors - one a deep pool type, the other a vessel type - were developed by INET. The vessel type reactor was selected as the main development direction. Construction of a 5 MWt experimental nuclear heating reactor (NHR5) at INET began in 1986 and was completed in 1989. The larger, demonstration-scale NHR200-II was developed from this.

A feasibility study on constructing China's first nuclear plant for district heating is being carried out by China General Nuclear and Tsinghua University. The plant would use the domestically-developed NHR200-II low-temperature heating reactor technology.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) will be used in the future not just for electrical generation but also for providing heating, Mingguang Zheng - president of Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute and senior vice president of State Nuclear Power Technology Company - said today at the World Nuclear Association Symposium 2018.

He said China's current use of fossil fuels to provide heating creates very serious air pollution during the winter months. "To prevent air pollution and to enhance human life, we think that nuclear power, especially the use of nuclear energy to supply district heating, is very important," Zheng said.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

[JSCh]

CGN unit to boost mine output
By Zheng Xin | China Daily | Updated: 2018-08-31 10:57

A technician works in the dispatch room in China General Nuclear Power Corp's Husab Uranium Mine in west Namibia. [Photo/Xinhua]

Subsidiary to ramp up throughput to ensure uranium facility reaches its designed capacity

The uranium subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Corp, the country's largest nuclear operator, has said the company's Husab Uranium Mine located in Namibia will continue to be optimized this year.

The company said it will ramp up its throughput to ensure the mine reaches its design capacity this year.

The Namibian Husab Uranium Mine, the third-largest uranium mine in the world and China's largest investment project in Africa, has been constantly increasing output since it came online in late 2016. The project, lauded as a paragon of Sino-African cooperation for injecting long-term vitality into the Namibian economy, saw its output exceed 1,000 metric tons in 2017.

Taurus Mineral Ltd, an entity owned by a subsidiary of CGN called Uranium Resources Co Ltd and the China-Africa Development Fund, holds a 90 percent share in the mine and the Namibian state-owned mining company Epangelo has 10 percent.

In addition to Namibia, the company has also signed agreements with uranium-producing countries including Kazakhstan, Australia and Canada.

Namibia is the fourth-largest producer of uranium in the world after Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia. Uranium is considered to be one of six mineral resources of strategic importance by the Namibian government.

The country has two significant uranium mines capable of providing 10 percent of the world's output, according to the world nuclear association. Industry insiders believe Chinese-African cooperation on uranium resources is a win-win solution and it is also strategically important for China to secure fuel resources, given its ambitious nuclear power generation expansion plans.

Joseph Jacobelli, a senior analyst of Asian utilities and infrastructure at Bloomberg Intelligence in Hong Kong, said China's demand for uranium resources for nuclear power generators will increase in the mid to long term, considering the sharp rise in the number of nuclear reactors in the country.

This will in turn help with China's energy security, he said.

The company has for years maintained double-digit growth, with total assets increasing 22.1 percent year-on-year to reach 635.2 billion yuan ($99.2 billion) last year.

The company's sales revenue and profits rose 29.3 percent and 15.3 percent year-on-year, respectively in 2017.

Electricity generated by clean energy from CGN increased 20 percent to 211.9 billion kilowatt-hours in 2017, the equivalent of 66.13 million tons of standard coal, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 160 million tons, and nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions each by 320,000 tons, it said.

 

[JSCh]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=476903016119233

State Power Investment Corp
13 September at 15:18 ·

The Main Pump for #AP1000 #Nuclear Power Station Becomes Made-in-China

On September 11, all product tests and the post-testoverhauling of the first AP1000 canned motor main pump jointly produced by Shenyang Blower Works Group Nuclear Pump Co., Ltd. and Harbin Electric Power Equipment Co., Ltd. were successfully completed.The test data shows that all the performance parametersof the main pump meet the requirements of the main pump design specification, and the overall overhauling indicators meet the relevant requirements.

The success of this main pump test indicates that domestic enterprises have been fully equipped with the capability of manufacturinglocalizedAP1000 canned motor main pumps, which provides strong guarantee for the supply of the localized main pumps of CAP series power plants.

Main pump is one of the key equipments of NPPs and plays an important role in the safe and reliable operation of NPPs reactor system.

State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) is in charge of the introduction and assimilation of AP1000 technology. So far,four AP1000 units(Sanmen No. 1 andNo. 2 units, Haiyang No. 1 andNo. 2 units) of the self-reliant program of Gen III NP have all entered into the nuclear operation state. Sanmen No. 1 unit is expected to achieve commercial operation in the near future.

 

[JSCh]

Hualong One simulator ready for operator training
17 September 2018

The first full-scope simulator for the Chinese-developed Hualong One reactor has been delivered to the Fuqing nuclear power plant, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced on 14 September.

The Hualong One full-scope simulator at the Fuqing plant (Image: CNNC)​

Simulators are a vital piece of equipment for training plant operators, both at the start of their careers and for their continuing training.

CNNC said the new simulator passed the acceptance test and was officially delivered 115 days in advance of schedule. Experts concluded that all the indicators of the Hualong One full-scope simulator meet the relevant functional and performance requirements, it added, and the simulator is now ready to be used to train reactor operators.

Developed by CNNC subsidiary Wuhan Nuclear Power Operation Technology Company Limited, the simulator uses a variety of international advanced technologies to simulate the operation of a nuclear power plant, both under normal and emergency conditions. It uses the latest platform and software to which CNNC Wuhan has complete independent intellectual property rights.

The simulator exactly replicates the control room of Fuqing unit 5 - the first of two demonstration Hualong One units at the site in China's Fujian province.

Installation of the control room at Fuqing 5 was completed last month. The final display panel of the control room was installed on 4 August, China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Company announced on 7 August. The company said this was six days ahead of schedule and marked the reactor's transition from the installation phase to the system commissioning phase.

In November 2014, CNNC announced that the fifth and sixth units at Fuqing will use the domestically-developed Hualong One pressurised water reactor design, marking its first deployment. It had previously expected to use the ACP1000 design for those units, but plans were revised in line with a re-organisation of the Chinese nuclear industry. China's State Council gave final approval for construction of Fuqing units 5 and 6 in April 2015.

The pouring of first concrete for Fuqing 5 began in May that year, marking the official start of construction of the unit. Construction of unit 6 began in December the same year. The dome of unit 5 was installed on the containment building in May last year and the reactor pressure vessel was installed in January this year.

Fuqing 5 and 6 are scheduled to be completed in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Construction of two Hualong One (HPR1000) units is also under way at China General Nuclear's Fangchenggang plant in the Guangxi Autonomous Region. Those units are also expected to start up in 2019 and 2020. Two HPR1000 units are under construction at Pakistan's Karachi nuclear power plant. Construction began on Karachi unit 2 in 2015 and unit 3 in 2016; the units are planned to enter commercial operation in 2021 and 2022. The HPR1000 has also been proposed for construction at Bradwell in the UK, where it is undergoing Generic Design Assessment.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

[JSCh]

中国核电_CNNP
今天 09:26 来自 微博 weibo.com
9月21日凌晨3点57分，中核集团旗下三门核电1号机组顺利完成168小时满功率连续运行考核，机组具备投入商业运行条件，这也是全球首台具备商运条件的AP1000核电机组。至此，中核集团旗下上市公司中国核电运行核电机组达到19台，控股在役装机容量增至16716兆瓦。

China National Nuclear Corporation
Today 09:26 from weibo.com
At 3:57 am on September 21, China National Nuclear Corporation's Sanmen Nuclear Power Unit No. 1 successfully completed the 168-hour full-power continuous operation assessment, and the unit was put into commercial operation conditions. This is also the world's first AP1000 nuclear power unit with commercial conditions. So far, China National Nuclear Corporation's listed companies have reached 19 nuclear power units in China, and the installed capacity in the holdings has increased to 16,716 megawatts.

 

[JSCh]

China starts mass production of HTGR fuel elements
Source: Xinhua| 2017-07-17 21:49:04|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao



HOHHOT, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The world's first production line for high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel elements has started mass production at China North Nuclear Fuel, headquartered in Baotou in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The 200,000 spherical fuel elements were made Monday, marking a transition from a test production line to an industrial one, according to Wang Shoujun, president of China National Nuclear Corporation, parent company of China North Nuclear Fuel.

China is cementing its leading position as a manufacturer of HTGR fuel elements, Wang said.

With a designed capacity of 300,000 spherical fuel elements per year, the production line will provide fuel for the demonstration high-temperature gas-cooled reactor plant being built at Shidaowan, near Rongcheng city in Shandong Province.

China has independent intellectual property rights for the production line, which was put into operation in 2016. The HTGR is best known for its inherent safety design.

China CCTV report that the first high-temperature gas-cooled reactor demonstration project entered the fuel system commissioning stage

​

 

[JSCh]

China signs up to four new units from Russia
08 June 2018

Russia and China have signed four agreements envisaging the construction of four VVER-1200 units at Xudabao and Tianwan, cooperation in the CFR-600 fast reactor pilot project, and supply of the RITEG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) parts for China's lunar exploration programme. The signing ceremony was held today in Beijing and attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Two of the deals aim for construction of two units at a greenfield site in Xudabao and two at Tianwan (units 7 and 8). Russia will supply the VVER-1200 reactors and all related equipment.

Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachov said that over the course of "longstanding cooperation with our reliable partners" - China's Atomic Energy Authority, the National Energy Administration, and the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) - "we have created an unprecedented level of trust".

The third agreement envisages the supply of equipment, fuel, and services for the CNNC-developed CFR-600 fast reactor pilot project. The fourth concerns the supply of radionuclide heat units (UHR) used as parts of radioisotope thermoelectric generators to power equipment in China's space programme, for use in lunar exploration in particular, Rosatom said.

The Tianwan units 1 and 2 were started up in 2007 and generate more than 15 terawatt hours of electricity every year. Unit 3 was connected to the grid on 30 December and is scheduled to enter commercial operation later this year.

The design of the Tianwan plant is based on Russia's AES-91 project with a VVER-1000 reactor, which fully meets the requirements of current Chinese, Russian, and International Atomic Energy Agency regulations, Rosatom said. Construction of the plant is being carried out by Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation (JNPC) in cooperation with Russia's Atomstroyexport. JNPC is a joint venture between CNNC (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).

The State Council gave its approval for the third phase of the Tianwan plant (units 5 and 6) - both featuring Chinese-designed 1080 MWe ACPR1000 reactors - on 16 December 2015. First safety-related concrete was poured for unit 5 later that month and for unit 6 in September 2016. Unit 5 is expected to enter commercial operation in December 2020 and unit 6 in October 2021.


http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Russia-to-build-four-VVER1200-units-in-China-08061802.html

中国核电_CNNP
今天 15:19 来自 小米Max2 大屏大电量
9月30日14时27分，#国庆#前夕，中国核电投资控股的田湾核电站4号机组堆芯实现首次临界，标志着该机组进入带核功率运行状态，向祖国母亲69岁生日献礼。

China National Nuclear Power posted on weibo that at 14:27 on September 30, Unit 4 of Tianwan Nuclear Power Station entered first criticality.

 

[JSCh]

Dome installed at Karachi unit 3
01 October 2018
The dome of Karachi unit 3 in Pakistan has been lifted into place, marking the transition from civil construction to equipment installation at the Hualong One unit.

Karachi 3's dome is lifted into place (Image: CNNC)​

Karachi 2 and 3 are the first export of China's Hualong One pressurised water reactor design, with construction of unit 2 beginning in 2015 and unit 3 in 2016. The units are scheduled for commercial operation in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Karachi 3's dome - 23.4 metres high, with a diameter of 46.8 metres and weighing about 388 tonnes - was hoisted into place in the morning of 29 September, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said. The unit's nuclear island was completed in June, and "pre-introduction" of major components, including the reactor pressure vessel and steam generators, was completed earlier in September. Unit 3's nuclear island was completed in a shorter time than it took to complete the same work for unit 2.

In addition to the two units under construction at Karachi, four Hualong One units - also known as HPR1000 - are being built in China. Fanchenggang 3 and 4 and Fuqing 5 and 6 are all expected to enter commercial operation in 2019-2020.

Pakistan currently has 1355 MWe of nuclear generating capacity from five operating units: a small pressurised heavy water reactor at Karachi, and four Chinese-designed pressurised water reactors at Chashma. A third 1161 MWe Hualong One unit is planned for construction at Chashma.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News


http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Dome-installed-at-Pakistan-nuclear-plant

 

[JSCh]

China CCTV report that the first high-temperature gas-cooled reactor demonstration project entered the fuel system commissioning stage

​

HTR-PM steam generator passes pressure tests
02 October 2018
The first steam generator for China's demonstration high-temperature gas-cooled reactor plant (HTR-PM) has completed air pressure tests, confirming its integrity, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has announced.

Testing of the HTR-PM steam generator (Image: CNNC)​

The test was completed on 29 September, one month ahead of schedule, CNNC said. Completion of the test "indicates that China has fully mastered the design and manufacture" of steam generators for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, according to the company.

Work began on the demonstration HTR-PM unit - which features two small reactors and a turbine - at China Huaneng's Shidaowan site in December 2012. China Huaneng is the lead organisation in the consortium to build the demonstration units together with CNNC subsidiary China Nuclear Engineering Corporation (CNEC) and Tsinghua University's Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, which is the research and development leader. Chinergy, a joint venture of Tsinghua and CNEC, is the main contractor for the nuclear island.

The demonstration plant's twin HTR-PM reactors will drive a single 210 MWe turbine. Helium gas will be used as the primary circuit coolant. The steam generator transfers heat from helium coolant to a water/steam loop. The design temperature of the HTR-PM reaches 750°C. "The overall structure is very complex, and the requirements for raw materials and manufacturing processes are extremely high," said CNNC.

The pressure vessel of the first reactor was installed within the unit's containment building in March 2016. The vessel - about 25 metres in height and weighing about 700 tonnes - was manufactured by Shanghai Electric Nuclear Power Equipment. The second reactor pressure vessel was installed later that year.

The first of the graphite moderator spheres was loaded within the core of the first reactor in April last year. In July, the thermal hydraulic parameters of the steam generator were validated. The demonstration HTR-PM is expected to be connected to the grid and start electricity generation this year.

A further 18 such HTR-PM units are proposed at Shidaowan.

Beyond HTR-PM, China proposes a scaled-up version called HTR-PM600, which sees one large turbine rated at 650 MWe driven by some six HTR-PM reactor units. Feasibility studies on HTR-PM600 deployment are under way for Sanmen, Zhejiang province; Ruijin, Jiangxi province; Xiapu and Wan'an, in Fujian province; and Bai'an, Guangdong province.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News


http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/HTR-PM-steam-generator-passes-pressure-tests

 

[JSCh]

US to restrict nuclear technology exports to China - Channel NewsAsia
12 Oct 2018 04:52AM (Updated: 12 Oct 2018 08:58AM)

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Thursday (Oct 11) that it will increasingly restrict civilian nuclear exports to China as President Donald Trump vowed a hard line on trade, bluntly warning not to think Americans are "stupid."

The US Energy Department said it would make it more difficult to ship nuclear technology to China, one of the few growing markets for new plants as the Asian economy tries to meet rising electricity demand through low-carbon sources.

"The United States cannot ignore the national security implications of China's efforts to obtain nuclear technology outside of established processes of US-China civil nuclear cooperation," Energy Secretary Rick Perry said in a statement.

The measures are the latest salvo in a widening US drive to pressure China, with the Trump administration recently slapping US$250 billion in tariffs on goods from the Asian power.

The Energy Department said it would not end exports to China but would show greater scrutiny and that there "will be a presumption of denial" for new licences related to the state-owned China General Nuclear Power Corp.

The company was indicted last year along with a naturalized US citizen on charges of conspiring to develop sensitive nuclear material with US know-how without going through the required approval process.


The US already carefully reviews nuclear exports through the Energy Department's so-called Part 810 authorisations, which verify if the technology goes to peaceful use and will not be sent to a third country.

"For decades China has maintained a concerted, central government-run strategy to acquire nuclear technology to gain economic advantage," a US official said on condition of anonymity.

The United States last year shipped US$170 million in nuclear exports to China, according to official figures. A 2017 Commerce Department report ranked China as the second largest market for US nuclear exporters, second only to Britain.

"We understand that the US industry may suffer in the short term from this decision," the official said.

"However, China's concerted effort to emulate and displace US nuclear products could cause the permanent loss of global markets and domestic jobs in the long run," he said.

'AMERICANS ARE NOT STUPID PEOPLE'

Former president Barack Obama in 2015 signed off on an extension of nuclear cooperation between the United States and China, with his administration arguing that Beijing had moved to tighten controls as part of renewal negotiations.

Relations between the world's two largest economies have soured sharply, however, with Trump earlier on Thursday vowing to inflict economic pain on China if it does not blink in a trade war.

"They lived too well for too long and, frankly, I guess they think that the Americans are stupid people. Americans are not stupid people," Trump said in an interview on "Fox and Friends."

The mogul-turned-president boasted that his tariffs had already "had a big impact."

"Their economy has gone down very substantially," he said. "I have a lot more to do if I want to do it. I don't want to do it but they have to come to the table."

Trump is pressing China to improve trading conditions for US products and to end what US businesses say is widespread theft of their intellectual property.

China has responded by imposing counter tariffs, which the Trump administration alleges show political interference by targeting products from key states in next month's congressional elections.

The International Monetary Fund this week cited the trade war as it lowered its 2019 growth forecast for China, which is set to see its slowest expansion since 1990. The IMF also lowered estimates for the United States and the global economy as a whole.

Trump renewed his charge that past presidents Obama and George W. Bush "let China get out of control" through the massive US imports of manufactured goods.

"We have helped rebuild China more than any other factor. We have helped rebuild it. I said it's over."

Source: AFP/de

 

[JSCh]

China National Nuclear Corporation
Today 09:26 from weibo.com
At 3:57 am on September 21, China National Nuclear Corporation's Sanmen Nuclear Power Unit No. 1 successfully completed the 168-hour full-power continuous operation assessment, and the unit was put into commercial operation conditions. This is also the world's first AP1000 nuclear power unit with commercial conditions. So far, China National Nuclear Corporation's listed companies have reached 19 nuclear power units in China, and the installed capacity in the holdings has increased to 16,716 megawatts.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=489280471548154

State Power Investment Corp

Provisional Acceptance Certificate for Sanmen NPP Unit 1 Signed and Issued

On October 11, the signing ceremony of provisional acceptance certificate (PAC) for Sanmen NPP Unit 1 was held in Sanmen, Zhejiang Province, China. Sanmen Nuclear Power Companyrespectively signed the provisional acceptance certificate with State Power Investment Corporation Limited (SPIC), Westinghouse Electric Corporation, State Nuclear Power Engineering Company (a subsidiary company of SPIC), and other parties.

The signing of the PAC marks that all devices of Sanmen NPP Unit 1 under the contract are under normal operation and the unit performance guarantee value has reached the contractual requirements.As the general contractor of nuclear island, SPIC has completed all contractual obligations. It also shows that the construction parties enable the performance and reliability of Sanmen NPP Unit 1 to fully meet the design requirements, laying a solid foundation for the follow-up provisional acceptance, formal acceptance, overall completion acceptance and other work concerning the 4 units of the project.

 

[JSCh]

US to restrict nuclear technology exports to China - Channel NewsAsia
12 Oct 2018 04:52AM (Updated: 12 Oct 2018 08:58AM)

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Thursday (Oct 11) that it will increasingly restrict civilian nuclear exports to China as President Donald Trump vowed a hard line on trade, bluntly warning not to think Americans are "stupid."

The US Energy Department said it would make it more difficult to ship nuclear technology to China, one of the few growing markets for new plants as the Asian economy tries to meet rising electricity demand through low-carbon sources.

"The United States cannot ignore the national security implications of China's efforts to obtain nuclear technology outside of established processes of US-China civil nuclear cooperation," Energy Secretary Rick Perry said in a statement.

The measures are the latest salvo in a widening US drive to pressure China, with the Trump administration recently slapping US$250 billion in tariffs on goods from the Asian power.

The Energy Department said it would not end exports to China but would show greater scrutiny and that there "will be a presumption of denial" for new licences related to the state-owned China General Nuclear Power Corp.

The company was indicted last year along with a naturalized US citizen on charges of conspiring to develop sensitive nuclear material with US know-how without going through the required approval process.


The US already carefully reviews nuclear exports through the Energy Department's so-called Part 810 authorisations, which verify if the technology goes to peaceful use and will not be sent to a third country.

"For decades China has maintained a concerted, central government-run strategy to acquire nuclear technology to gain economic advantage," a US official said on condition of anonymity.

The United States last year shipped US$170 million in nuclear exports to China, according to official figures. A 2017 Commerce Department report ranked China as the second largest market for US nuclear exporters, second only to Britain.

"We understand that the US industry may suffer in the short term from this decision," the official said.

"However, China's concerted effort to emulate and displace US nuclear products could cause the permanent loss of global markets and domestic jobs in the long run," he said.

'AMERICANS ARE NOT STUPID PEOPLE'

Former president Barack Obama in 2015 signed off on an extension of nuclear cooperation between the United States and China, with his administration arguing that Beijing had moved to tighten controls as part of renewal negotiations.

Relations between the world's two largest economies have soured sharply, however, with Trump earlier on Thursday vowing to inflict economic pain on China if it does not blink in a trade war.

"They lived too well for too long and, frankly, I guess they think that the Americans are stupid people. Americans are not stupid people," Trump said in an interview on "Fox and Friends."

The mogul-turned-president boasted that his tariffs had already "had a big impact."

"Their economy has gone down very substantially," he said. "I have a lot more to do if I want to do it. I don't want to do it but they have to come to the table."

Trump is pressing China to improve trading conditions for US products and to end what US businesses say is widespread theft of their intellectual property.

China has responded by imposing counter tariffs, which the Trump administration alleges show political interference by targeting products from key states in next month's congressional elections.

The International Monetary Fund this week cited the trade war as it lowered its 2019 growth forecast for China, which is set to see its slowest expansion since 1990. The IMF also lowered estimates for the United States and the global economy as a whole.

Trump renewed his charge that past presidents Obama and George W. Bush "let China get out of control" through the massive US imports of manufactured goods.

"We have helped rebuild China more than any other factor. We have helped rebuild it. I said it's over."

Source: AFP/de

USA announces China export policy
12 October 2018

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has established a new policy framework on civil nuclear cooperation with China, following a government policy review led by the US National Security Council. The policy covers exports of technology, equipment and components, and material to China.

Westinghouse-designed AP1000s at Sanmen, China (Image: Westinghouse)​

The policy guidance sets out a "clear framework" for the disposition of the DOE's authorisation requests for transfers to China under Part 810 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR part 810), currently on hold because of military diversion and proliferation concerns, the DOE said yesterday.

The DOE said the efforts are necessary "to strike an appropriate balance between the long-term risk to US national security and economic interests, as well as the immediate impact to the US nuclear industrial base".

For exports of technology, there will be a presumption of approval, contingent on end-user checks, for amendments or extensions for existing authorisations for technology transferred before 1 January 2018, with the exception of light water small modular reactors (SMR) and non-light water advanced reactors. New technology transfers for operational safety are also presumed approved, with certain contingencies, as are transfers required to support the sale of commercially available items.

There is a presumption of denial for exports related to light water SMRs, non-light water advanced reactors, new technology transfers after 1 January 2018 and any transfer to China General Nuclear (CGN) and/or its subsidiaries or related entities. Exports to non-CGN intermediaries and end users will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with risks including those to US national and economic security balanced against the economic and strategic benefits the export might provide.

For equipment and components, there is presumed approval for requests for exports to support continued projects such as the construction of AP1000s and "major identical components" similar in type and technology level to those commonly available; and for SMRs and advanced reactors with no technology transfer other than installation and operation. There is a presumption of denial for requests related to "direct competition with the United States" such as the Hualong One reactor, and for any transfer to CGN and its subsidiaries and related companies.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News



http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-announces-China-export-policy

 

[TaiShang]

USA announces China export policy
12 October 2018

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has established a new policy framework on civil nuclear cooperation with China, following a government policy review led by the US National Security Council. The policy covers exports of technology, equipment and components, and material to China.

Westinghouse-designed AP1000s at Sanmen, China (Image: Westinghouse)​

The policy guidance sets out a "clear framework" for the disposition of the DOE's authorisation requests for transfers to China under Part 810 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR part 810), currently on hold because of military diversion and proliferation concerns, the DOE said yesterday.

The DOE said the efforts are necessary "to strike an appropriate balance between the long-term risk to US national security and economic interests, as well as the immediate impact to the US nuclear industrial base".

For exports of technology, there will be a presumption of approval, contingent on end-user checks, for amendments or extensions for existing authorisations for technology transferred before 1 January 2018, with the exception of light water small modular reactors (SMR) and non-light water advanced reactors. New technology transfers for operational safety are also presumed approved, with certain contingencies, as are transfers required to support the sale of commercially available items.

There is a presumption of denial for exports related to light water SMRs, non-light water advanced reactors, new technology transfers after 1 January 2018 and any transfer to China General Nuclear (CGN) and/or its subsidiaries or related entities. Exports to non-CGN intermediaries and end users will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with risks including those to US national and economic security balanced against the economic and strategic benefits the export might provide.

For equipment and components, there is presumed approval for requests for exports to support continued projects such as the construction of AP1000s and "major identical components" similar in type and technology level to those commonly available; and for SMRs and advanced reactors with no technology transfer other than installation and operation. There is a presumption of denial for requests related to "direct competition with the United States" such as the Hualong One reactor, and for any transfer to CGN and its subsidiaries and related companies.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News



http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-announces-China-export-policy

That will be helpful for China, further justifying the efforts to decouple from the US and achieve independence in every major industry.

 

[JSCh]

China's CGN: 'No US technology used in the UK nuclear power project'
CGTN
2018-10-13 17:56 GMT+8

State-run China General Nuclear Power Corp (CGN), a leading developer of reactors in the country, said on Saturday that no American technology will be used in its proposed project in Britain.

CGN and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) are jointly promoting an advanced third-generation reactor known as the Hualong One to overseas clients. CGN aims to deploy the technology at a proposed nuclear project in Bradwell in England.

On Thursday, amid growing trade tensions, the US Department of Energy said it was tightening controls on civil nuclear technology exports to China to prevent military use or other unauthorized purposes.

CGN came under US scrutiny again last year with a National Security Council-led review of China's efforts to obtain nuclear material, equipment, and advanced technology from American companies, US government officials told reporters on Thursday.

CGN posted a statement on Saturday. There is currently no official English translation. /Screenshot via Weibo

"We do not understand whether the US government's inferences about CGN are based on proven facts or judicial decisions that have already taken effect," CGN said in a statement released on Saturday.

"The US government's inferences are improper. We reserve the right to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our enterprise by law."

The statement also said that there is no US technology involved in its project in the UK, and the nuclear technology export process is being strictly supervised by Chinese authorities.

"We will continue to work with our partners to promote new nuclear power projects in the UK," CGN added in the statement.

(Top image via VCG; article written with input from Reuters)