China, Thai firms to build Hualong nuclear reactors - Xinhua

CNNC International

24/12/2015 09:31

BEIJING, Dec 24 (Reuters) - China and Thailand will jointly 
build two nuclear power reactors in southwestern China that will 
incorporate Chinese-developed  third-generation technology known 
as Hualong-1, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. 
    Beijing is embarking on an ambitious plan to export locally 
developed technology as well as its equipment manufacturing 
capacity potentially worth hundreds of billions of dollars.  
    China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and Thailand's 
Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Co Ltd, or 
RATCH, will set up a joint venture to build and operate the 
second phase of a nuclear power plant in Fangchenggang, in 
Guangxi province, Xinhua said.  
    RATCH  RATCH.BK , an independent power producer with the 
state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand as its 
majority stakeholder, said on Wednesday that it had entered an 
equity investment deal with CGN and China's Guangxi Investment 
Group Co.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nWNBS01U2B 
    The JV will invest in two reactors each rated at 1,180 
megawatts, with commercial operation slated for 2021, RATCH 
said.  
    Fangchenggang, a port city near Vietnam, is the second site 
at which China plans to build Hualong-1 reactors under a pilot 
programme. Construction of the first one started in May in 
Fujian province on the southeastern coast. 
    Just a week ago, China's State Council, or cabinet, gave the 
green light to build Hualong reactors at Fangchenggang.  
    Hualong was jointly designed by CGN and China National 
Nuclear Corp. 
    The China-Thailand alliance at Fangchenggang may pave the 
way for China to export Hualong to member countries of the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Xinhua said. 
    In October, CGN agreed to invest $9 billion in French 
utility EDF's  EDF.PA  Hinkley Point project, Britain's first 
new nuclear plant in a generation.  
    As part of that deal, EDF will help CGN gain a license to 
build a Hualong reactor at another site in Britain, whose 
nuclear regulatory regime is seen as one of the most stringent 
in the world. 
     
     
 
 (Reporting by Chen Aizhu; Editing by Dale Hudson) 
 ((aizhu.chen@thomsonreuters.com; +8610 66271211; Reuters 
Messaging: aizhu.chen.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: CHINA THAILAND/NUCLEAR