Bradwell B marks Chinese industry's transition

The first phase, which involves CGN delivering to the British regulator a Preliminary Safety Report for the HPR1000 design, is expected to be completed soon.

"The HPR1000 design enjoys the advantages of both maturity and economic efficiency," said Mao Qing, CGN's chief technical officer in Britain.

Mao added that HPR1000's technology is mature because it builds incrementally on proven technology, instead of incorporating huge quantities of completely new elements.

Its economic efficiency is achieved by simplifying some features relative to other earlier third-generation designs, without compromising quality and safety.

Four nuclear reactors in China have been built using HPR1000 technology, two at Fuqing in Fujian province and two at Fangchenggang in the Gunagxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Chinese companies are also actively negotiating deals to build HPR1000 stations in Kenya and Egypt.

Peter Haslam, head of policy at the UK's Nuclear Industry Association, felt CGN is providing huge economic benefits "locally and nationally" through the Bradwell project.

A large number of British nuclear supply chain companies are preparing to bid for contracts.

This would not only bring them immediate financial benefits but also make them a part of the HPR1000 design during the long term.

In the future, this would also give them further opportunities as China exports its HPR1000 to other countries.

"We will be approaching CGN as soon as they announce the contract specifications," said Graham Honeyman, chief executive officer of Sheffield Forgemasters, which is looking to secure contracts on forging works for the nuclear power station's pressurizer and steam generator.

British company Amec Foster Wheeler is already working with CGN to provide support for its GDA work.

And Hayward Tyler and China's Shanghai Apollo Machinery have signed a deal to create new nuclear equipment to support HPR1000 in the UK.

The country's National Physical Lab and the Chinese nuclear company CGN have created a joint research and development center to support HPR1000's localization process in the UK.

Alongside the supply chain work, CGN is working with British colleges, including the University of Sheffield, to train UK graduates to work on its projects in China and later in the UK.