China, France renew nuclear power co-op

The power station, put into commercial operation in 1994 with a contract worth over $4 billion, has helped the French nuclear power industry maintain its capacity in nuclear equipment supply, engineering, operation and research and development.

"France is in sharp contrast to other countries that refused to cooperate with China," said Chen Tai, president of Nuclear Power College under the CGNPG, which operates the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station.

"These countries have failed to maintain their nuclear power capacity, partly because they have chosen to give up on the Chinese market," Chen said.

China also benefited from the cooperation, Pu said.

Based on the technologies and experience gained from the Daya Bay nuclear power program, China has mastered the know-hows of design, construction and operation of nuclear power stations with a capacity of upto 10 million kilowatts on its own, Pu said.

So far, China has almost formed a complete industrial system of nuclear power, and has become the country with the largest nuclear power capacity under construction, Pu added.

Future plan

Machenaud said EDF is participating in China's massive development of nuclear power capacity by not only providing technical support but also getting involved in operation and investment.

"We shall set our roots in the Chinese nuclear power market through joint operations, and this is unprecedented (for EDF)," he said.

The joint development of new-type reactors by the two sides will bring the two countries' cooperation in nuclear power to a new and crucial stage, Machenaud said.

Besides CGNPG, EDF has also signed cooperation agreements with several major electricity suppliers in China.

"A comprehensive and diversified cooperation with Chinese enterprises will consolidate our position as a priority partner," Machenaud said.

Meanwhile, the cooperation will help EDF make breakthroughs in its business in China, Asia as well as other markets, he added.

"The signing of these new agreements on nuclear power will lay a solid foundation for enterprises from both countries to build deeper and more sustainable cooperation in the sector," He said.

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