China buys nuclear generators for moon and 4 new commercial nuclear reactors from Russia

China is buying more nuclear reactors and nuclear technology from Russia.
* four more VVER-1200 units at Xudabao and Tianwan
* cooperation in the CFR-600 fast reactor pilot project
* supply of the RITEG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) parts for China’s lunar exploration programme.

The design of the Tianwan plant is based on Russia’s AES-91 project with a VVER-1000 reactor.

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.

First EPR reactor starting

The Taishan unit 1 nuclear power plant in China’s Guangdong province has reached a sustained chain reaction for the first time. It will be the first EPR reactor to reach the commissioning milestone. The unit is expected to enter commercial operation later in 2018.

Taishan 1 and 2 are the first two reactors based on the EPR design to be built in China. They form part of an EUR8.0 billion (USD9.5 billion) contract signed by Areva and China General Nuclear (CGN) in November 2007. The Taishan project – 140 kilometers west of Hong Kong – is owned by the Guangdong Taishan Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company Limited, a joint venture between EDF (30%) and CGN.