New | China promotes exports of next generation Hualong One reactor as ‘competitive’ with rival atomic technologies

Senior engineers overseeing the third-generation Hualong One nuclear reactor sought to reassure prospective global buyers of the technology.

They say that in spite of construction delays that have seen some maiden reactors years behind schedule, the next-generation atomic energy systems will prove to be competitive against rival technologies, thanks to the China’s established supply chain.

The Hualong One has passed preliminary safety reviews and is now in the detailed design stage, according to officials at the nation’s largest nuclear projects developer China General Nuclear Corp’s (CGN). Basic design work on the reactor was completed in February 2014, according to the company.

Mao Qing, the deputy chief designer of the Hualong One reactor, said the reactor’s estimated per GW construction cost of US$2.5 billion when production is scaled up will be “very competitive” against rival nuclear technologies from US-based Westinghouse’s AP1000 and French firm Areva’s EPR reactors.

Asked to compare the merits among AP1000, EPR and Hualong One, CGN vice-president Zheng Dongshan told reporters during a site visit of the Hualong One reactor under construction in Fangchenggang, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region: “Each technology has its own specificity, its competitiveness depends on many factors [besides technology, including] the construction [contractor’s] expertise and labour cost.”