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China to commence building world’s first fourth generation nuclear power plant, and already has plans to export them

By chankaiyee2 on April 25, 2015 • ( 5 )

The construction site of a third-generation nuclear power plant in Zhejiang province, Dec. 25, 2014. (File photo/Xinhua)

The following is based on a translation from Chinese media:

China has completely mastered the technology of its fourth-generation high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor, and is now able to make more than 95% of it.

It built a 10-mW experimental reactor and has successfully used it to provide electricity to the power grid since January 7, 2003.

Construction of an exemplary power plant using such a reactor is almost completed in Rongcheng, Shandong Province and will generate electricity in 2017.

Now China is designing a 600-mW nuclear plant in Ruijin with two such reactors. The reactors will begin to be built in 2017 and supply electricity in 2021.

The official in charge stressed that the new power plant will be called Ruijin High Temperature Reactor Power Plant instead of Ruijin Nuclear Power Plant.

The new type of nuclear reactor is extremely safe. Tests have proved that in a serious accident, such as entire loss of cooling capability, the reactor is able to remain safe without human or machine intervention.

Due to such an advantage, China will use such reactors to build many nuclear power plants at home, and will also export them.

China has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai for cooperation in building such reactors and has provided Saudi Arabia with a design plan for using such a reactor in desalinating sea water.