CNNC has 22 units in operation and 6 units under construction by the end of 2019, which have generated 136.2 billion kilowatt hours in 2019 with paramount operating performance. In 2019, 9 CNNC units got full marks of 100 points in the evaluation of the WANO comprehensive index: Unit 1 and 4 in Qinshan Phase II NPP, Unit 1 in Qinshan Phase II NPP, Unit 1 and 2 in Fangjiashan NPP, Unit 1 and 2 in Tianwan NPP, Unit 1 in Fuqing NPP and Unit 1 in Sanmen NPP.
On May 20th local time, the K-2 unit of the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant in Pakistan, the first overseas nuclear power unit built with China's self-developed Hualong-1 technology, met the final acceptance requirements. Representatives from China and Pakistan jointly signed the acceptance certificate at the ceremony. Till May 20, the construction of the first overseas nuclear power reactor equipped with China's third-generation pressurized water reactor nuclear technology, the Hualong-1, had successfully concluded. It will inject new momentum into nuclear energy cooperation and the iron friendship between China and Pakistan, and become one of new achievements in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The average capability factor of 9 units at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) reached 96.8% in 2023. According to data released by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), this outstanding performance secures the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant the top spot globally among nuclear power bases with 6 or more units, setting a new record for the safe and stable operation of similar facilities.
A hot performance test was recently conducted on the No. 1 unit of Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant, which is built by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) with Hualong One, a domestically designed third-generation nuclear reactor, in East China's Fujian province. The hot performance test laid a solid foundation for tasks such as fuel loading and grid connection.
CNNC has completed the demonstration project for a new-generation uranium enrichment centrifugal machine. CNNC has successfully developed CF3 fuel assemblies, which ushered Chinese nuclear fuel fabrication into a new era. CNNC has begun mass production of nuclear fuel element for high temperature gas-cooled reactor. The first AP1000 nuclear fuel element production line of CNNC successfully produced the first batch of 64 refueling assemblies, with full conformation to technical requirement. CNNC's integrated uranium purification & conversion technology has achieved industrial application, a 10,000-ton uranium conversion center has been established.
The IAQ Quality Sustainability Award 2021was given to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) on Dec 9 for its project "The development and application of high reliability CF fuel assembly based on innovative quality managements." The project was developed by the Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC) which is affiliated with CNNC. This is the first time that a Chinese project has won this honor, marking a historic breakthrough, and has also been the only award-winning project in China so far. The IAQ Quality Sustainability Award was founded in 2019 by the International Academy of Quality (IAQ), a member of the United Nations Global Compact. It is awarded to projects that have successfully applied quality management concepts, methods and tools to achieve outstanding results in the field of sustainable development defined by the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
Fuel loading has started on the first unit of the world's first pebble-bed modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) nuclear power demonstration project on August 21. This is a major milestone in the construction of the HTGR demonstration nuclear power plant. It is also an achievement of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Tsinghua University, the China Huaneng Group and others in promoting the realization of the goals of bringing carbon dioxide emissions to a peak and achieving carbon neutrality, and in facilitating the high-quality development of China's nuclear industry. This achievement has laid the foundation for subsequent commissioning work, and marks a key step towards accelerating the industrialization of HTGRs and taking a leading place in the global fourth-generation nuclear power technology.
CNNC has established China's first kiloton-level uranium mine in Yili, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Major progress has been made on the construction of another two kiloton-level uranium production centers in Inner Mongolia autonomous region. CNNC has ascertained six uranium deposits. CNNC employs advanced mining techniques, integrating space-based remote-sensing and airborne geophysical, ground, and deep-well exploration. Uranium mining has reached a depth of 500 to 1,500 meters.
The National No.1 Uranium Demonstration project, China's largest natural uranium production project built by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), started construction in Ordos, a city of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on July 12. Key indicators of the demonstration uranium project have ranked among the best in the world. Once completed, it will become a natural uranium production base with the highest standards, featuring green, economical, intelligent and efficient operation.
Rössing Uranium Limited, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation, recently attended the Namibia Mining Expo and Conference 2024. Under the theme "Green Shoots for Namibia's Mining Industry: A Season of Opportunity and Growth for Economic Expansion", this year's mining expo and conference aimed to promote the fast development of the Namibian mining sector and push for the country's economic growth. The 11th Namibia Mining Expo and Conference was hosted by Namibia's Chamber of Mines. Namibian Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo visited exhibition area of Rössing Uranium.
CNNC has formed an complete industrial chain for nuclear power plant construction, which includes overall civil work, installation capabilities, such as earthwork, prestress, concrete, steel lining, hoisting, nondestructive testing, and maintenance expertise, as well as site accommodation and amenities. As of the end of 2019, there are 59 CNNC units both in operation and under construction domestically, with a gross installed capacity of 59.8 GW. CNNC has exported 7 nuclear power units to Pakistan, with a gross installed capacity of 4.63 GW. CNNC has provided otherwise civil & industrial services for petrochemical industry, metallurgy, building materials, residential construction, and municipal projects to over 30 countries.
CNNC has constructed a radiochemical experiment facility for nuclear fuel reprocessing. Nuclear waste is transported through a cementation drum. CNNC has mastered pyrolytic incineration treatment of low-level organic liquid waste. The pyrolytic incineration project has been put into operation.
The IAEA and the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology (BRIUG) of CNNC signed an agreement designating BRIUG as the "IAEA collaborative center for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste". This collaborative center is the first of its kind. It will promote international academic exchanges and increase joint research and talent training in R&D for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, and the designing and building of underground laboratories. This center marks a new milestone in China's technological cooperation with other countries, which will contribute Chinese experiences to the R&D of technologies in this field. It is of great significance for promoting nuclear safety and the sustainable development of nuclear energy.
China's first facility for immobilizing high-level radioactive waste in glass went into operation in the city of Guangyuan, Southwest China's Sichuan province, on September 11. This has made China one of few countries to master this technology and is of landmark significance for the green development of China's nuclear industry. "The disposal of radioactive waste is the last step in the safe use of nuclear power, and the most difficult and technologically demanding part is the disposal of high-level radioactive liquid waste," said Liu Yongde, chief engineer of the China Atomic Energy Authority. Storing radioactive waste in glass is the most advanced way to dispose of liquid nuclear waste. Prior to this, only a few countries, including the United States, France, and Germany, had mastered this technology.
CNNC President Gu Jun addressed the International Conference on Climate Change and Role of Nuclear Power, which was held by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Oct 7. The conference brought together IAEA member countries to discuss the sustainable development of nuclear energy and climate change solutions. Zhang Kejian, director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, and Gu Jun, president of CNNC, presented China’s ideas on solving the issue of climate change. In Gu’s speech, he called on the international nuclear community to strengthen their faith in nuclear development.
CNNC's nuclear technology application extends to isotopes and related products, nuclear medicine, nuclear instruments and apparatus, radioactive sources and industrial applications, as well as irradiation processing. Nuclear medicine: CNNC is capable of providing one-stop nuclear medicine solutions to other countries. Radioactive medicine: CNNC accounts for a market share of 70 percent. Radioactive source: CNNC is the only Chinese company that produces radioactive sources for medical purposes. Radiation processing: CNNC is a competent EPC contractor for the design, manufacturing and installation of irradiation facilities, holding two of the three licenses issued in China. Among the 130 operational irradiation facilities in China, over 100 were designed by CNNC.
Specifically for strategic deployment of new energy resources, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) established China Rich Energy Corporation Limited to develop new energy resources such as wind power and photovoltaic power generation. It is expected that an industry scale of 1 million kW (including wind power, photovoltaic power, and distributed power generation) will be put into operation by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15).
The National No.1 Uranium Demonstration project, China's largest natural uranium production project built by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), started construction in Ordos, a city of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on July 12. Key indicators of the demonstration uranium project have ranked among the best in the world. Once completed, it will become a natural uranium production base with the highest standards, featuring green, economical, intelligent and efficient operation.
Rössing Uranium Limited, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation, recently attended the Namibia Mining Expo and Conference 2024. Under the theme "Green Shoots for Namibia's Mining Industry: A Season of Opportunity and Growth for Economic Expansion", this year's mining expo and conference aimed to promote the fast development of the Namibian mining sector and push for the country's economic growth. The 11th Namibia Mining Expo and Conference was hosted by Namibia's Chamber of Mines. Namibian Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo visited exhibition area of Rössing Uranium.
