OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2008.  The 10th China International Nuclear Energy Exhibition "NUCLEAR INDUSTRY, CHINA’2ОО8" (NIС’2008) has set off in Beijing on Mar 25. Atomenergoprom’s stand covers an area of 135 sq m and presents the capacities of Russia’s nuclear industry, particularly, the products and services of the holding’s leading subsidiaries: Atomstroyexport (the only company in the world that is simultaneously building five nuclear reactors), TVEL Corporation (one of the world’s leading producers of nuclear fuel), Techsnabexport OJSC (one of the world’s biggest suppliers of uranium enrichment services), OKBM, Hydropress, Atomenergoproekt (St.Petersburg). So, the visitors will be able to get first-hand information about Atomenergoprom and its companies as well as about Russia’s plans to build nuclear power plants abroad.

During the press-conference of the Russian delegation, the representatives of Atomenergoprom and Atomstroyexport pointed out that China and Russia had outlined wide prospects for developing their cooperation in the nuclear power sector. Spokesperson of Atomstroyexport Irina Yesipova said that Atomstroyexport was negotiating with its Chinese partners the key terms of the contract for the construction of the 3rd and 4th units of Tianwan NPP. Besides Tianwan, Russia and China are jointly building a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant in the Chinese territory and are intensifying their cooperation under the project to build China’s first experimental fast reactor (CEFT), to be launched in 2010.

Presently, China has 11 nuclear reactors with a total capacity of over 9,000 MW, including the two reactors of Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant built by Russian specialists. Tianwan NPP has two WWER-1000 (pressurized-water reactor). Both reactors are operating at full capacity and stably supplying Jiangsu province with electricity.

The construction of Tianwan NPP has become the biggest joint energy project between Russia and China. On Nov 6 2007 Atomstroyexport CJSC and Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation signed a framework agreement for the construction of the 3rd and 4th reactors of Tianwan NPP. Presently, the parties are drafting a relevant Russian-Chinese inter-governmental agreement. In the future, Tianwan NPP is supposed to have eight reactors with a total capacity of 10GW.

NIC exhibition, China’s premier nuclear industry event for the past 20 years, is strongly supported by the world’s leading nuclear industry manufacturers/suppliers.

NIC’2008 continues to be the premier international commercial nuclear industry marketplace that creates optimum business and trade opportunities with major end-users/buyers, providing the platform to exchange knowledge on leading technology and best business practices, by offering a quality business forum.

The active participation of Russia in NIC 2008 testifies to the high interest of our country in the possibility of joint nuclear energy projects in Asia-Pacific.