CGN’s Fangchenggang-3 begins construction with first concrete pour

On the morning of December 24, 2015, Unit 3 of Fangchenggang NPP, the HPR1000 demonstration unit, has officially started construction, with the first pouring of nuclear concrete. Units 3,4 of Fangchenggang NPP are considered as the reference units for the Bradwell B nuclear project in the UK, and the construction of Unit 3 lays a solid foundation for “going global” of HPR1000 technology.

At 11:22 pm, Zhang Xiaoqin, Vice Governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, announced the official construction of Fangchegngagn NPP ProjectⅡ, and then started concrete placing boom with Wang Xiaolin, Deputy Director of National Energy Administration, Wang Fei, Deputy Director of State Oceanic Administration, Jin Xiangjun, Secretary of Fangchenggang Municipal Party Committee and He Yu, Chairman of CGN, pouring the first concrete for Unit 3.

HPR1000, Gen-III nuclear power technology co-developed by CGN and CNNC, draws on the over 30 years of accumulated experience, technologies and expertise, and assimilates domestic and overseas experience on nuclear design, construction and operation. In addition, HPR1000, innovatively applied the safety design concept of the combination of active and passive and based on domestic mature nuclear equipment manufacturing system, is regarded as a sustainable and proprietary Gen-III nuclear technology which achieves the balance of safety and economy, the combination of active and passive safety systems and the integration of technological advancement and maturity.

In December 2014, the National Energy Administration approved the two-unit (HPR1000) construction plan for Fangchenggang NPP ProjectⅡand  on December 16, 2015, the proposal was finally approved at the Executive Meeting of State Council chaired by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

As the major brand of “going global” strategy of nuclear power, HPR1000 technology owns international competitive advantages. Previously, CGN signed an investment agreement with EDF for the planned British nuclear power projects during Chinese President Xi’s visit to the UK in October 2015. According to the agreement, CGN would lead the construction of Bradwell B nuclear project (HPR 1000).

Following the construction of Unit 3, Fangchenggang ProjectⅡnuclear project has been seemed as the bridgehead for expanding international nuclear market by Chinese nuclear enterprises, laying a major foundation for “going global” of equipment manufacturing industry driven by proprietary nuclear technology. Mr. He Yu stated that the export of HPR 1000 technology to the UK creates a new chapter in Western countries. The export benefits of HPR 1000 nuclear plant equal to the export of 200 medium-sized aircrafts, helping to promote the “going global” of  more than 5400 enterprises featuring design, equipment manufacturing, construction and installation and other high-end equipment manufacturing business and to promote China to grow into a manufacturer of quality.

One day before the formal construction of the project, CGN and Guangxi Investment Group Co. Ltd reached an agreement to cooperate on the nuclear power project with Thailand's Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited (RATCH), a subsidiary of the State-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. According to the agreement, the three sides will team up to establish a joint venture to develop, construct and operate the Phase II project of Fangchenggang NPP on the basis of peaceful use of nuclear energy agreement reached between Sino-Thai governments. Thai government has initiated the independent review of HPR1000 technology with great interest to the technology. In addition, Thailand plans to add HPR1000 into the “short list” of potential selectable nuclear power technology and dispatches engineering technology staff to China to learn and master HPR1000 technology.

Wang Xiaolin, Deputy Director of the National Energy Administration said that “go global” of high speed rail and nuclear power constitutes an important part of “One Belt and One Road” strategy. HPR1000 technology shoulders the major responsibility to realize export of Chinese nuclear power technology. The construction of Unit 3 of Fangchenggang NPP, the reference unit for overseas HPR 1000 units, presents profound strategic significance for China’s nuclear power development.

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Following the construction of Unit 3 of Fangchenggang NPP, the number of units under construction of CGN has reached 13 with a total installed capacity of 15.63 GWe，accounting for 54% of the capacity in mainland China, which enables CGN maintain the largest nuclear constructor worldwide. Meanwhile, the number of units in operation reached 14 with a combined installed capacity of 14.92 GWe, accounting for 58% in mainland China. At present, CGN owns 307,700 tons of uranium resources that could meet the refueling requirements of 30 million-kilowatt units for 30 years. In addition, with the collaborative development strategy of nuclear power and new energy, by the end of November 2015, CGN owns an installed capacity of 8.1 GWe of wind power, 1.1 GWe of solar energy photovoltaic, 5.26 GWe of hydropower equity installed capacity and 1.47 GWe of controlled operational installed capacity, and 8.66 GWe of natural gas. CGN also makes progress in the fields of distributed energy, nuclear technology application, energy-saving technology services and other sectors.