The CFR-600 (Xiapu fast reactor pilot project) is a sodium-cooled pool-type fast-neutron nuclear reactor in Xiapu County, Fujian province, China, on Changbiao Island. It is a generation IV demonstration project by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Construction started in late 2017. These first reactor started operations in 2023 The reactor will have an output of 1500 MW thermal power and 600 MW electric power. The fuel will be supplied by TVEL, subsidiary of Rosatom, according to the agreement signed in 2019.
The CFR-600 is part of the Chinese plan to reach a closed nuclear fuel cycle. Fast neutron reactors are the main future nuclear power technology in China.
A larger commercial-scale reactor, the CFR-1000, is also planned.
On the same site, the building of a second 600 MW fast reactor CFR-600 was started in December 2020 and four 1000 MW CAP1000 are proposed.CCCC-FHDI wins bid for quot;feasibility study of offshore engineering of 600MW fast reactor nuclear power demonstration project in Xiapu , 12.03.2015. CAP1000 are Westinghouse Electric Company US design and technology transfer sold to China, while nuclear fuel is supplied by Russia Tosatom. ( on ).
Such breeder reactors have the possibility to be used to produce weapons grade plutonium for nuclear weapon manufacturing purposes.
Reactors +UnitTypeModelNet capacityGross capacityThermal capacityConstruction StartOperation Start NotesXiapu-1FBRCFR-600642 MWe682 MWe1882 MWt2017-12-29Xiapu-2FBRCFR-600642 MWe682 MWe1882 MWt2020-12-27 Phase II Xiapu-3 PWR Hualong One 1000 MW 1215 MW 3400 MW Xiapu-4 PWR Hualong One 1000 MW 1215 MW 3400 MW
Controversy
Al Jazeera reported in 2021 that the reactors are controversial because they produce weapons-grade plutonium, offering a dual military and civilian use. China has stopped annual voluntary declarations to the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] on its stocks of plutonium.
See also Nuclear power in China China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) BN-600 reactor BN-1200 reactor Integral fast reactor List of nuclear reactors#China
References