China General Nuclear Power Group participated in the UK nuclear power plant project and achieved a major breakthrough in China's nuclear power “going out” in the western developed countries. As China's first investment in Western nuclear energy facilities, the project will adopt a new international cooperation model to enable China's nuclear power technology with independent intellectual property rights. The success of this project will also become an important step for China to leap from a nuclear power to a nuclear power.
With President Xi Jinping's visit to the UK, China's nuclear power industry has made new progress in “going out”. On October 21, China General Nuclear Power Group and EDF announced that they have reached a strategic investment agreement on the construction and operation of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset, England.
According to the agreement, China-Guangzhou-nuclear-led Chinese consortium and France Power Group will account for 33.5% and 66.5% of the shares of the nuclear power plant project respectively. The nuclear power plant is controlled by EDF. The two sides will jointly fund the construction of two European pressurized water nuclear power units at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant. This is also China's first large investment in Western nuclear facilities.
On June 30, 2015, the Chinese and French governments signed the "Joint Statement on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation" in Paris, clarifying the Chinese enterprise wing led by China General Nuclear Power Group, in the construction of three new nuclear power projects in the UK and France. Related companies carry out cooperation.
The "Statement" pointed out that EDF supports and participates in the development of another UK nuclear power plant project led by China General Nuclear Power Group, and jointly carries out adaptive design modification based on the "Hualong No. 1" technology, mainly to meet the safety of the UK independent nuclear regulatory agency. Require and make it competitive.
Therefore, China National Nuclear Corporation formed a Chinese enterprise team to participate in the British project and strive to achieve “through the participation in the construction of two French EPR reactors in the Hinkley Point C project and the preliminary development work of the Cessville C project, which ultimately achieved the Chinese holding. The site's common goal is to build the 'Hualong No. 1' unit at Bradwell.
Industry insiders said that the cooperation in this nuclear power project is a breakthrough for China's nuclear power exports to Western developed countries. It is hoped that by taking advantage of the development of the UK nuclear energy market, we will gradually move towards a comprehensive cooperation path for the UK's nuclear industry's entire industrial chain, industrial participation and technology joint research and development. At the same time, we will enter the high-end market from the UK market, familiarize ourselves with the rules of international market operations, cultivate international talents, radiate global markets, realize the export of China's independent nuclear power technology to the high-end nuclear power market, and promote China's transition from a nuclear power to a nuclear power. , occupying a place in the world's competitive nuclear energy market.
The British nuclear industry has a long history and the nuclear power industry has a large scale of development. In recent years, it has opened its doors to cooperation with China. At present, in addition to the smooth progress of the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project, which is jointly operated by the Chinese, English and French parties, China and the UK are also actively exploring cooperation in the field of nuclear energy research.
On October 19th, in order to better promote the UK nuclear power project, China General Nuclear Power Group set up an important position in the UK, and its General Nuclear International Co., Ltd. was formally established in London, England.
According to reports, the newly established General Nuclear Energy International Co., Ltd. will become a platform for comprehensive cooperation with the French Power Group in the UK's new nuclear power projects such as Hinckley Point C, Sethville C and Bradwell B. An important platform for pragmatic cooperation between the UK and France in the supply chain.
On October 19th, CNNC and the British National Nuclear Laboratory signed the "Joint Statement on the Establishment of Sino-British Joint Research and Innovation Center", which set a precedent for R&D cooperation between China and developed countries in the field of high-end nuclear technology.
"The business scope of this R&D center will cover the entire nuclear industry chain, such as advanced fuels for reactors, small reactor technology, nuclear fuel treatment after decommissioning, etc. These are the advantages of Sino-British countries using their respective industrial and technological advantages. Development, these technologies will have more market prospects.” Yu Peigen, deputy general manager of China National Nuclear Corporation.
Experts said that the Sino-British Joint R&D Center is undoubtedly a window that has become an important window for Chinese nuclear power people to showcase the strength of China's nuclear industry research and development, promote China's independent nuclear power technology, and absorb European advanced nuclear industry technology and talents.
"The UK nuclear power market is extremely open and the level of competition is unimaginable, but it is not surprising to choose China to participate." Yu Peigen said.
"Overall, China's nuclear power industry has initially had the foundation for development at a higher starting point." Liu Baohua, director of the Nuclear Power Department of the National Energy Administration, previously said that from a global perspective, the development of nuclear power is moving from the second generation to the third generation. With the transformation, China is being upgraded from a nuclear power to a nuclear power. Whether it is domestic environmental support or international market demand, China's “Hualong No.1” market prospects are extremely broad.
It is understood that China and the UK are also actively promoting regional cooperation in the nuclear economy. The British Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne is currently pushing the development strategy of England's "Northern Economic Belt", which is very compatible with the strategy of China's western development. CNNC is working with the UK to plan the Sino-British nuclear special economic zone cooperation, taking the nuclear industry as the core industry and using Sichuan and the northern part of the UK as carriers to build the above-mentioned cooperation into a national-level long-term cooperation plan between China and the UK to promote implementation. The above two national strategies and regional economies are developing in synergy. This cooperation has been included in the results of the seventh financial dialogue between China and the UK. CNNC is actively promoting the signing of local government-enterprise cooperation agreements between the two countries to promote the nuclear industry in the development of advanced nuclear technology, skills, nuclear standards and other aspects. Expand Cooperation. (Economic Daily reporter Qi Hui)