Hualong-1 ：The Pride of China’s Nuclear Technology

    In the past few days, China’s two biggest corporations in the nuclear industry China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) have showcased a brand-new reactor technology, Hualong-1 at the 12th China-ASEAN EXPO at Nanning. Hualong-1 is the third-generation of reactor technology which is fully designed and developed in China.  

     On 14th of May 2015, construction of the first Hualong-1 reactor commenced at Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant. And this reactor is planned to be commercially operated in 2019. There are totally 6 units designed at Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant, of which only unit 5 and unit 6 are Hualong-1 reactors.

History of Hualong-1

    Designing the new reactor technology first started in the 90s in China. CNNC started with developing the Chinese standard three-loop PWR, which was named CNP1000 (also CNP600). This is the second-generation of PWR and is designed based on the two-loop reactor CNP300 which was used in Qinshan as China’s first self-developed reactor technique, and the AP1000 technique from Westinghouse. Till now, the CNP1000 or CNP600 reactors are already been built or planed in several NPPs in China like Fangjiashan or Changjiang as well as exported to Pakistan. Into the 21 century, CNNC started its design on third-generation of three-loop PWR, which is named ACP1000.

    On the other side, CGNPC was seeking cooperation with Areva to develop the French M310 three-loop technology to an updated version CPR1000. This CPR1000 technology was being widely and quickly deployed for domestic use. However the intellectual property rights belongs to Areva, CGN then evolved the Advanced-CPR1000 also known as ACPR1000 of which China owned the whole intellectual property right.

    Since 2011, several rounds of negotiation between these two biggest Chinese nuclear corporations have grappled with the task of “merging” these two designs, ACP1000 and ACPR1000. Both of them are three-loop pressurized water reactors. The Hualong-1 is designed to hava 177 fuel assemblies 3.66 m long, 18-24 month refuelling interval, equilibrium fuel load will be 72 assemblies with 4.45% enriched fuel, and three coolant loops delivering 3150 MWt, 1150 MWe, double containment and active safety systems with some passive elements, and a 60-year design life.

Current Situation of Hualong-1

        After the “GO-OUT” and “ONE BELT ONE ROAD” plans (Chinese government’s strategy and framework to boost international investment and establish a regional economic cooperation through the Eurasia continent) were announced in 2013, Hualong-1 was positioned as the first technology of Chinese nuclear industry for export and both the government and corporations have been actively promoting it all over the world. In 2013 CNNC announced an export agreement for twin ACP1000 units, for Pakistan’s Karachi Coastal Power station, but this will now use Hualong-1 technology.  

      Another attractive trade is between the United Kingdom and China.  Reportedly, CGN is seeking to take share of a planned nuclear power plant which is named Hinkley Point located at South West of England. And the technology to be used is widely believed to be Hualong-1, which will make this technology first winning a bid when compared with other mature Western technologies (the nuclear power plants in Pakistan did not undergo a commercial bid).

My View on the Future of Hualong-1

Until a decade ago, China still needed help from the developed countries to build a nuclear power plant, but now it has the ability to export its own technology. With the strong support and backing from the Chinese government coupled with China’s renewed focus on science and technology development, I firmly believe that the future of Hualong-1 is promising.

Having evaluated China's strong push for Hualong-1, my personal view is China is keen to show to the world that it is a KEY and IMPORTANT player in the global nuclear market. It wants to establish and cement its position as a player which is able to develop reactor technology which is of high quality, reliability and standards. It is not the revenue from exporting its technology which China is after, but rather it wants "acceptance" and "acknowledgement".

Do you agree?

China’s nuclear technology developments will be discussed during the 4th edition of Asia Nuclear Business Platform which will take place 18-19 May 2016 in Hong Kong.