On Sept 14, the 70th IAEA General Conference opened in Vienna, alongside a Chinese exhibition themed "Small Modular Reactors and the Integrated Use of Nuclear Energy". During the event, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and the IAEA signed a cooperation agreement on high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs).

The exhibition showcased China's advanced nuclear technologies and applications, including HTGRs and the Linglong One reactor. Advanced reactor technologies such as HTGRs drew attention from the IAEA and representatives from around the world.

Under the agreement signed at the event, the two sides will cooperate and exchange expertise on the R&D, design, construction, commissioning, and operation of HTGR nuclear power plants, as well as supply chains and talent development. The cooperation will enable the global sharing of China's practical experience in HTGR engineering and support the wider application of HTGRs in low-carbon areas such as power generation, industrial heating, and hydrogen production.

CNNC has long promoted innovation and the application of advanced nuclear technologies, with continued efforts in small modular reactors and fourth-generation reactor technologies. It has developed a full spectrum of reactor types, from large and medium-sized to small, specialized, and micro reactors, offering diverse solutions for different energy needs and application scenarios around the world.

In recent years, CNNC has also advanced the integration of "nuclear energy + petrochemicals", combining the clean advantages of nuclear energy with the energy needs of the petrochemical industry. This offers a new pathway for the green transformation of traditional energy-intensive industries. As a fourth-generation nuclear technology, HTGRs have broad potential in industrial heating and integrated energy applications.

On January 16, 2026, construction began on the Xuwei Nuclear Heating and Power Plant in Jiangsu province, the world’s first nuclear power plant to couple HTGRs with pressurized water reactors, with industrial heating as its primary function while also supplying electricity. The project marks a key step in China's shift from single-purpose power generation to diversified energy supply, and offers a replicable and scalable "China solution" for the low-carbon transformation of energy-intensive industries worldwide. Once completed, the plant is expected to supply more than 35 million metric tons of industrial steam annually.