WEEKLY ROUNDUP China’s State Council Green-Lights First Reactor Project Since 2012

摘要

China’s State Council has green-lighted Hongyanhe-5 and -6, the first nuclear newbuild project approved since Tianwan-3 and -4 in December 2012. News of the Feb. 17 approval, revealed only this week, buoyed expectations that six other newbuild units would be approved in 2015: four Hualong-Ones at Fuqing and Fangchenggang and two CAP1400s at Shidao Bay (NIW Nov.21’14). While the National Energy Administration approved the Hongyanhe expansion in 2010, the Liaoning-based project was halted after Fukushima as officials debated whether to allow projects using second-generation technology to proceed; the ACPR1000 units planned for Hongyanhe are considered GenII+ technology, and the design was only recently recognized by China’s regulator as a possible alternative to Gen III technologies with delayed reference plants. The Hongyanhe plant is owned by Hongyanhe Nuclear Corp., a joint venture between China General Nuclear (CGN), China Power Investment Group (CPI) and Dalian City Construction and Investment Corp., with equity split 45:45:10, respectively. CPI will lead construction under an agreement with CGN. A necessary final sign-off from the National Nuclear Safety Administration is expected imminently, with the first concrete pour forecast for end-March.