In the first bilateral exchange at the head-of-state level between the two sides this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will jointly participate in the opening ceremony of the two countries’ nuclear energy cooperation project via video link today. The event marks the beginning of the construction of new Russia-designed nuclear power units at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant and the Xudapu Nuclear Power Plant in China.
In his press conference yesterday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian hailed the two countries’ collaboration, noting that partnership on nuclear energy was a traditional cooperative area between the two countries. Zhao pointed to the June 2018 deal between them, under which they agreed to jointly build units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant and units 3 and 4 of Xudapu Nuclear Power Plant. He noted the upcoming project’s significance, acknowledging that this has been the biggest China-Russia nuclear energy cooperation project to date. The four reactors have a contract value of 20 billion yuan ($3.1 billion), while the total project cost could exceed 100 billion yuan ($15.5 billion).
Executives from China National Nuclear Power Co., a listed subsidiary of CNNC, reported that construction for the No.7 and No.8 reactors of Tianwan station is expected to begin this month. The plant is expected to generate about 70 billion kilowatt-hours annually, and reactors No. 7 and No. 8 will use Russia’s third-generation VVER-1200 model.
According to the Chinese National Energy Administration, as of April, the number of nuclear power units in operation in the Chinese mainland had reached 49, ranking third globally. China also has 19 nuclear power units approved for or under construction. While nuclear energy power generation accounted for 4.9% of China’s power generation in 2020, the introduction of the VVER-1200 technology in China will add to China’s status as a testing ground for the world’s third-generation nuclear technologies. Zhao on Tuesday spoke about the upcoming project’s impact on China’s climate ambitions, stating: “Since nuclear energy is clean and efficient, the four units, after completion, will effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This shows China’s firm determination to peak its carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality as well as its commitment as a responsible major country.”
Energy cooperation between China and Russia also includes natural gas, oil, and coal, and with the upcoming projects, nuclear fuel could now be an emerging sector.
China and Russia To Open Nuclear Energy Project Today
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will witness the opening ceremony of the world’s largest nuclear energy cooperation project together via a video link today.
May 19, 2021
SOURCE: EAST ASIA FORUM