The reactor core shell of China's high-temperature gas-cooled reactor demonstration project - the HTR-PM - was installed within the pressure vessel of the first unit on 30 August, according to China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Company Ltd. A demonstration HTR-PM unit is under construction at Shidaowan near Weihai city in China's Shandong province. That plant will initially comprise twin HTR-PM reactor modules driving a single 210MWe steam turbine. Construction started in late 2012 and commercial operation is scheduled to start in late 2017.
China Nuclear Engineering Corporation (CNEC) has been working with Tsinghua University since 2003 on the design, construction and commercialisation of HTR technology. The partners signed a new agreement in March 2014 strengthening their cooperation in both international and domestic marketing of the advanced reactor technology.
A proposal to construct two 600MWe HTRs at Ruijin city in China's Jiangxi province passed a preliminary feasibility review in early 2015. Construction of the Ruijin reactors is expected to start next year, with grid connection in 2021.
CNEC is actively promoting its HTR technology overseas and has already signed memoranda of understanding with Dubai, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. The company signed an agreement with Indonesia in early August to jointly develop the technology. Earlier CNEC and China General Nuclear signed a cooperation agreement to promote industrialisation of HTRs and to establish domestic and foreign companies to promote HTR projects.
CNEC has also signed an co-operation agreement with UK-based Amec Foster Wheeler. As part of the agreement Amec said CNEC is “expected” to use Amec’s high-temperature research facility in the UK as part of possible mutual efforts for the deployment of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors in the UK and internationally.
