Chinese companies unveil their nuclear energy offers to South Africa

24th May 2013

By: Keith Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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China’s interest in South Africa’s proposed new nuclear power plant (NPP) programme was made manifest recently when three Chinese nuclear companies held a joint public briefing of their capabilities and technologies at the Energex Africa 2013 exhibition in Midrand, north of Johannesburg. China today has 17 operational NPPs, with another 28 under construction.

The State-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) highlighted its experience in the nuclear energy sector and its history in developing NPPs. It currently operates nine reactors and is building another 12 reactors at five new NPPs.
It has developed a number of pressurised water reactor (PWR) designs and its latest is the ACP1000, the first two units of which should start construction before the end of this year. “The ACP1000 meets the requirements of Generation III NPPs, including active and passive [safety] design, [and] feedback from the Fukushima nuclear accident,” assured CNNC representative Duan Hui.

She also cited her company’s success in exporting an earlier NPP design, the 300 MWe CP300, to Pakistan. Two units (reactors), designated Chasnupp, were built at the Chashma NPP. “Chasnupp-1 came into commercial production in 2000. Its availability is over 90%. Chasnupp-2 gained provisional acceptance in May 2011, three months ahead of schedule. It is now also [fully operational].” CNNC has also exported research reactors – miniature neutron source reactors – to Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria. “We hope to have good cooperation with South Africa in nuclear power in the future.”

The State Nuclear Power Tech-nology Corporation (SNPTC) also highlighted its latest design, the CAP1400. This is also a Gen-eration III PWR. It is based on the technology of Westinghouse Electric’s AP1000. SNPTC is currently building four AP1000 units in China and has been the beneficiary of technology transfer from the US company. Westinghouse has also provided design consultation for the CAP1400.

“It has a passive safety system. There is no need for operator action for 72 hours after an accident. The upgraded safety features are based on the lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accident,” affirmed SNPTC senior adviser Sun Guangdi. “The CAP1400 is listed by the Chinese government as a National Science and Technology Major Project – one of 16 [such] projects.” Currently, the plan is to build two CAP1400 units in China. SNPTC describes the CAP1400 as the “largest advanced passive [safety] nuclear power plant in the world”. It has a designed generating capacity of 1 500 MW.

The China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Corporation (CGN) can offer South Africa its ACPR1000 PWR design. This, too, is a Generation III design and is derived from French technology. It has a designed output of 1 150 MWe. Construction of the first unit in China is expected to start next year. At the moment, CGN has eight units in operation, 15 more under construction at five sites, while two more sites are in preparation for the construction of a further four units.
“CGN is currently number one in the world for nuclear new builds,” highlighted company VP: nuclear development department Yang Mao Chun.

All three of the Chinese reactor designs on offer have a designed life span of 60 years. All, again, would need to be refuelled every 18 months.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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