The CFR-600 (Xiapu fast reactor pilot project) is a sodium-cooled pool-type fast-neutron

nuclear reactor A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and control a Nuclear fission, fission nuclear chain reaction. They are used for Nuclear power, commercial electricity, nuclear marine propulsion, marine propulsion, Weapons-grade plutonium, weapons ...

under construction in Xiapu County,

Fujian Fujian is a provinces of China, province in East China, southeastern China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capital is Fuzhou and its largest prefe ...

province,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, on Changbiao Island. It is a generation IV demonstration project by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Construction started in late 2017. These reactors are expected to be connected to the grid in 2023 and 2025. 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 State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (commonly referred to as Rosatom rus, Росатом, p=rosˈatəm}), also known as Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, (), or Rosatom State Corporation, is a Russian State corporation (Russia), sta ...

, according to the agreement signed in 2019. The CFR-600 is part of the Chinese plan to reach a closed

nuclear fuel cycle The nuclear fuel cycle, also known as the nuclear fuel chain, describes the series of stages that nuclear fuel undergoes during its production, use, and recycling or disposal. It consists of steps in the ''front end'', which are the preparation o ...

. 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.
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. Such breeder reactors have the possibility to be used to produce weapons grade plutonium for

nuclear weapon A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear exp ...

manufacturing purposes.

Reactors

Controversy

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'' 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 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology, nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was ...

AEAon its stocks of plutonium.

References

{{nuclear-power-stub category:nuclear power stations in China Fast-neutron reactors

Reactors

Controversy

See also

References