China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has completed the preliminary design of its CFR-1000 sodium-cooled fast reactor and is now awaiting approval with the aim of beginning operation after 2030. Announcing the development at a symposium on the development of advanced nuclear energy industry in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, CNNC said sodium-cooled fast reactors have become the preferred reactor type for fourth-generation nuclear power. The event was attended by representatives from the China Atomic Energy Authority and National Energy Administration.
China’s research and development on fast neutron reactors started in 1964 and fast reactors are expected to become the main technology by mid-century. The CFR-1000 will represent the third stage in China’s sodium-cooled fast reactor development going from an experimental fast reactor to a demonstration fast reactor, to a commercial fast reactor. China’s 65 MWt (20MWe) Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) was constructed at the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) near with Russian assistance. The CEFR was built by Russia’s OKBM Afrikantov in collaboration with OKB Gidropress, the NA Dollezhal Scientific Research & Design Institute of Power Engineering (NIKIET) and the Kurchatov Institute.
The reactor achieved first criticality in July 2010 and was achieved full power in 2014. Although the CEFR is used mainly for research purposes, it is also operated as part of a 20MWe electric power unit that supplies electricity to the grid and is the only fast-neutron power reactor outside Russia.
Two 600 MWe (1,500 MWt) demonstration fast reactors developed by the CIEA are under construction in Xiapu County. Unit 1 began construction in 2017 and unit 2 in 2020. Russia’s ZiO-Podolsk will supply steam generator modules for the CFR-600s. Russia supplies fuel for the CEFR and will also supply fuel for the CRR-600s.
The contract for the supply of fuel for the CFR-600 was concluded in December 2018 as part of the implementation of a China-Russia government agreement as part of a large-scale comprehensive programme of cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for the coming decades. A special section for the production of CFR-600 uranium fuel was established at Rosatom’s Machine-building plant in Elektrostal (MSZ – Mashinostroitelnoi Zavod) in 2021 and the site for the fabrication of fast reactor fuel assemblies was modernised with the development and installation of unique equipment. At the end of 2021, assemblies of the control and protection system were sent to China to enable testing of the reactor simulation zone.
A Comprehensive Long-Term Cooperation Programme in the area of fast reactors and nuclear fuel cycle closure was signed on the sidelines of the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia in 2023.
