OREANDA-NEWS. September 22, 2010. I.I. Africantov OKB Mechanical Engineering OJSC (OKBM, Nizhny Novgorod) is going to supply two BN-800 fast neutron reactor installations to China.

This information was provided to journalists by Director, General Designer of OKBM Dmitry Zverev on Tuesday.

According to his version, at present the exploratory design has been fulfilled.

“In the near future preparation of the intergovernmental agreement will start, and after that the contract will be prepared. The BN-800 supply to China means the beginning of their serial construction,” D.Zverev said.

As previously reported, OKBM specialists have completed assembly and setting-up of equipment of the (BN) CEFR fast neutron research reactor being constructed in P.R.C. with the help of Russian enterprises.

Works related to reactor protection system, heat exchangers, refueling mechanisms, control instruments and devices, individual security systems have been also executed. The enterprise has fulfilled its obligations to the Chinese customer in full.

Completion of works pertaining to the CEFR reactor provides a good basis for further cooperation with P.R.C in the field of BN power reactors construction. In addition the Chinese party expresses interest in BN power reactors which are unique and operated presently only by Beloyarsk NPP in Russia.

BN is a fast neutron power reactor allowing not only for electric power generation but for nuclear fuel breeding due to plutonium production in the course of operation. The CEFR research reactor is the second reactor in the world based on the fast neutron technology.

CEFR (China Experimental Fast Reactor) is a Chinese experimental fast neutron reactor. Like in Russia, the policy of establishment of a large-scale nuclear power industry in P.R.C. in the XXI century is based on fast reactors ensuring most efficient nuclear fuel utilization. Construction of CEFR ranks in P.R.C. as a priority national objective.