China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has been promoting its engineering excellence through the new HPR 1000 also known as the Hualong 1 reactor. The main target for CNNC is to avoid using AP1000 and to expand its current fleet of M310, and CPR1000 with the Hualong. This technology allows CNNC to optimize its engineering, design and procurement.
CNNC nuclear base is in Zhejiang, the cradle of nuclear, in Qinshan. Over the last 30 years, Qinshan trained most of the Chinese experts in the domestic market, but also serves as a showcase for exports, such as Pakistan, Argentina and Sudan. Qinshan is a national success considering the large scope of reactors in use, from PWR (300 Mw and 1000 Mw) to HWR (700 Mw).
The base is backed by a nuclear city in Haiyan that provides human resources and spare parts for the manufacturing, construction, engineering, operation, debugging and the execution of the technical management standards.
Recently Qinshan Nuclear Power Company and Fuqing Nuclear Power Company signed a second cooperation framework to combine internal resources in order to support the expansion of the HPR 1000 (Hualong 1). Fuqing was the first site using the Hualong in China.
Both sides will design an independent and transferable nuclear standardization service and equipment associated with the HPR 1000. The main target is to offer a package for engineering, manufacturing, construction and operation for HPR 1000 in overseas markets.
Note regarding the existing projects:
The first concrete was poured recently for the conventional island in Fuqing 6 – the second Hualong unit under construction in Fujian province.
According to CNNC, the nuclear islands will be completed in 2019 (Fuqing 5) and 2020. (Fuqing 6) and both units currently under construction at Fuqing should be in operation by 2020.
CNNC main competitor, China General Corporation (CGN) is also commissioning two units in Fangchenggang (Guangxi province).
About Hualong International Nuclear Power Technology: the company is a joint venture between CGN and CNNC to promote the Hualong reactor in overseas markets. Although it is still officially listed as being ACP1000, Pakistan’s Karachi Coastal Power station is likely to be the first export of Hualong One units. But let’s be clear, this is purely marketing.
