Ningde Unit 5/6 to adopt HPR 1000 -CGN starts the batch construction of HPR 1000

CGN proposed to adopt HPR1000 technology for Units 5, 6 of Ningde NPP following the reactor design was selected for Units 3, 4 of Fangchenggang NPP

Recently, the environment assessment report for site selection phase of Ningde Unit 5 and Unit 6 published by Fujian Ningde Nuclear Power Co. says that as an expansion project of commercial NPP, the two units are proposed to adopt HPR1000 PWR nuclear technology. It was the first time that CGN revealed the subsequent project information of HPR1000 after CGN determined that the domestic demonstration project of HPR1000 was landed for Unit 3 and Unit 4 of Fangchenggang NPP.

The environment assessment report above announced that Ningde NPP planned to construct 6 million-kilowatt PWR nuclear power units. At present, Unit1，2 and 3 have been put into operation and Unit 4 is expected to begin commercial operation in 2016. Proceeding from the viewpoint of making full use of the limited nuclear power resources and actively promoting the independency of nuclear power units based on China’s long-term development plan of nuclear power, Ningde Nuclear Power Co. decided to invest and build Unit 5 and 6 after consultation with investors. The two units just need to keep on at the basis of the reserved site with superior conditions and could make the schedule, investment and quality of the project be better controlled. Meanwhile, the NPP expansion project is in line with the preferential national policies on self-rolling development.

According to the construction plan, the first concrete for Unit 5 is scheduled to be poured in 2016 with commercial operation in 2021 and Unit 6 is expected to begin commercial operation in 2022.

Currently, all aspects of activities, including the design documentation, equipment procurement and supply, site preparation, project approval and license application have made steady progress and satisfied the requirements for construction commencement during the second half of 2015 and the follow-up construction. From the expected timing, that the commencement dates of Ningde HPR 1000 and Fangchenggang HPR 1000 differed by less than one year means HPR 1000 is entering the stage of batch construction and will lay a key foundation for large scale “go global” of China’s industries such as equipment manufacturing driven by independent HPR 1000 technology.

As the Gen-III technology brand with full independent intellectual property rights, HPR1000 technology program formally passed national review in August, 2014 and was selected as the demonstration projects in Units 5,6 of CNNC Fuqing NPP and Units 3,4 of CGN Fangchenggang NPP. On April 15 this year, the executive meeting chaired by the State Council approved to build HPR1000 demonstration projects. And on May, the construction for Unit 5 of Fuqing NPP was started.

What is closely related to domestic demonstration project is HPR1000’s being introduced into the overseas market.

It is learned that CGN is speeding up the layout of nuclear power market at home and abroad, in particular, CGN is actively pushing forward the implementation of the strategy of “go global” for nuclear power and grasping the strategic opportunity of international nuclear power renaissance. CGN has made great breakthroughs on market development in the UK, Romania, etc.

On June 30, 2015, the “Joint Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation“ signed by China and France said that, the Chinese Consortium led by CGN would cooperate with French relevant companies in the three new nuclear power projects in UK. Specifically，The Chinese consortium led by CGN would support and participate the construction of two EPR units in Hinckley Point C and the preliminary development work of Sizewell C project. 

EDF supports and takes part in another CGN-led project development in UK and performs adaptive design modification on the basis of HPR1000 technology for satisfying the safety requirements from UK independent nuclear regulatory body and makes it competitive. Passing the Generic Design Approval (GDA) in UK is the premise for the landing of HPR1000 in UK, hence, the Chinese consortium led by CGN would push the GDA certification of HPR1000 in order to achieve HPR1000’s landing in the old nuclear power country and get a substantive breakthrough in promoting China's independent nuclear power technology’s “go global ”.

Analysts believe that it has important reference value for HPR1000 to construct domestic demonstration and following nuclear power projects. The safety and reliability and maturity of the core processes, including design and R&D, engineering construction and operation, play key roles for international market. As the largest nuclear operator in China and now the biggest constructor in the world, from Ling Ao PhaseⅡ, CGN has gradually established the independent, professionalized construction and operation and management pattern. In addition, CGN has abundant experience in standardized, scaled and intensified nuclear power development and boasts obvious advantages in batch construction of HPR1000 projects.