Country nuclear fuel cycle profile: China

Six PWRs and one PHWR, with a total capacity of 5400 MW(e), are in operation. Three PWRs and one PHWR, with a total capacity of 3300 MW(e), are under construction. In 2002, nuclear electricity generation represented 1.5% of the total electricity generated. China decided for a closed nuclear fuel cycle. In 2002, the Fuzhou centre (capacity 300 t U/a) processed 220 t U in the form of chemical concentrate. The Chongyi centre (capacity 120 t U/a) produced 100 t U using heap leaching. The Yining centre (capacity 200 t U/a), using ISL, supplied 180 t U. The Lantian centre (capacity 100 t U/a) produced 90 t U using both surface and underground heap leaching. The Benxi centre (capacity 120 t U/a) produced 75 t U, also using surface and underground heap leaching. A total of 665 t U was produced at these facilities. The UF6 conversion facility near Lanzhou (capacity 1500 t U/a) has been in operation since 1963. China has 2 enrichment plants: the Lanzhou gaseous centrifuge uranium enrichment plant, and the Shaanxi uranium enrichment plant, both of which use the centrifugal process. The total separative capacity is 1000 t SWU/a. The Yibin fabrication plant in Sichuan province has been producing fuel for the Qinshan nuclear power plant since 1984 and currently has a capacity of 200 t HM/a. Under a contract with Framatome ANP to transfer fuel fabrication technology to China, the Yibin fabrication plant has been modernized with the goal of providing fuel to all Chinese PWRs.The Baotou fabrication plant, with a CANDU fuel production line, is operating and has a throughput of 200 t U/a. All spent fuel is currently stored at the nuclear power plants. A civil reprocessing pilot plant with a capacity of 100 kg HM/d is under construction in Lanzhou and is scheduled to be commissioned some time in the near future. A centralized wet storage facility with a capacity of 550 t HM is under construction in the Lanzhou nuclear fuel complex