Author:Gu Xinping

　　[CAEA web news] December 14,2004,Mr.Zhang Huazhu,chairman of CAEA ,met with Mr.Torgerson, Senior Vice President of AECL, and exchanged opinions on the nuclear cooperation between China and Canada. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　Mr.Zhang briefed the situation of China’s nuclear power development to the guest. He said Chinese had made the decision to speed up the nuclear power development and approved 4 new nuclear projects with 8 units. The Preparatory Office of China Nuclear Technology Corporation was  established to take in charge of negotiation of nuclear power project bidding. In order to adapt to the demand of nuclear power development, China had tabled the enhancement on R&D of nuclear power technology.  With the increasing workload of nuclear power, China would strengthen the efforts on the technology introduction and international cooperation.

　　As for the technology of China’s nuclear power development, Zhang said, at current stage, Qinshan phase II expansion and Ling’ao expansion were going to be built by the means of duplication of mature technology combining with some technology improvement. The Sanmen and Yangjiang plants were subject to an open bidding process for third-generation technology. With the implementation of these two projects, China hoped to obtain the capability of self-designed and self-constructed of third-generation technology by 2010.

　　Zhang said, China also sped up the R&D work on other advanced nuclear power technology. For example, INET Tsinghua University were actively promoting the industrialization of HTGR. China Experimental Fast Reactor was being carried out by China Institute of Atomic Energy. China also participated in the IMPRO project of IAEA and maintained communication and exchange with the relevant countries of GIV forum.

　　Mr.Torgeson appreciated Mr.Zhang’s  introduction and believed  Chinese capability of nuclear component and equipment would be further increased with the development of nuclear power which could make China a potential global production base and supplier of nuclear equipment and components.  

　　Mr.Torgerson said, although Chinese engineers did not have experience on CANDU technology, they scored a great success on Qinshan phase III project and put it into operation four months ahead of schedule. Besides, up to now, Qinshan Phase III maintained good operation record. He indicated that AECL company would continuously support for Qinshan Phase III operation and make it the best performer among the CANDU owners.

　　Mr.Torgerson also introduced the nuclear activity in USA and Canadian market carried out by AECL recently. He said, AECL were working closely with the third largest utility company in USA to apply for Construction and Operation License(COL). US DOE appropriated a fund to support this effort. If everything went right, one ACR reactor would be built in Virginia in the future. Canada also had an opportunity to build an ACR 700 to cater the demand of environment and electricity.

　　Both sides agreed the cooperation between China and Canada should be further strengthened and common understanding and consensus could be reached based on the joint efforts of both sides.

　　(writer/Gu Xinping)