More export, wide use at home are nuclear's goal

Technicians inspect the operation of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant in Zhejiang province. [Photo/China Daily]

CNNC is also developing a fast-neutron reactor, which belongs to the fourth-generation nuclear technology. This would enable China to depend less on imported supplies of uranium in future.

The State-backed company was behind China's first fast-neutron reactor, the China Experimental Fast Reactor, in 2011, whose operations reached full capacity in 2014.

The pool-type fast-neutron reactor has a thermal capacity of 65 mW and can produce 20 mW of electricity.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute designed CAP1400, another third-generation nuclear reactor technology, based on the AP1000 reactor technology developed by the United States-based Westinghouse Electric Co LLC. China has promoted CAP1400 both domestically and abroad.

Zheng Mingguang, head of SNERDI, has said earlier construction of the pilot project of Shidaowan power plant in Shandong province, which will use the CAP1400 technology, is likely to start this year. There is high chance for the technology to be also used in South Africa's new-generation nuclear power stations.

"We have an edge over our competitors in terms of cost, reliability and security. Our technology incorporates both imported aspects and latest homegrown advances," he said.