China and Russia sign fast-neutron reactors cooperation agreement

22 March 2023

Russia's Rosatom and China's Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) have signed a Comprehensive Programme for Long-Term Cooperation in the field of fast-neutron reactors and closing the nuclear fuel cycle.

The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in a wide range of areas (Image: www.kremlin.ru)

The document was signed by Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev and Zhang Kejian, head of the CAEA, on the sidelines of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin referred to the agreement, when the two presidents spoke to the media, saying: "Interaction on peaceful nuclear power is progressing successfully. Russia is helping build nuclear power plants in China: the construction of units 7 and 8 at the Tianwan NPP and units 3 and 4 of the Xudabao NPP is on track, to be completed as scheduled. The implementation of the Long-term Cooperation Programme that was signed during the visit by Rosatom and the China Atomic Energy Authority will help strengthen partnerships in this area."

Rosatom said the document was "comprehensive" and covers a wide range of areas "expanding cooperation in current projects, as well as implementing new projects related to fast neutron reactors such as production of uranium-plutonium fuel and handling of used nuclear fuel".

It said the programme "provides for the preparation of a road map for its implementation by the end of 2024. In essence, we are talking about cooperation for decades to come and the formation of vectors for the development of nuclear energy at the global level".

China and Russia are both expanding their nuclear energy sectors, with already established links, including for the supply of fuel from Russia for the CFR-600 sodium-cooled pool-type fast-neutron nuclear reactor at Xiapu in China's Fujian province.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News