Representatives of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), led by Assistant General Manager Liu Mingzhang, together with specialists from Russia’s OKBM Afrikantov, conducted an audit at ZiO-Podolsk (part of Rosatom's mechanical engineering division Atomenergomash) to assess progress in the manufacture of equipment intended for China’s pool-type sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor CFR-600, Atomenergomash said on 6 July. The reactor is intended for unit 1 of the Xiapu fast reactor demonstration project. ZiO-Podolsk will manufacture and supply heat exchange modules for steam generators including 16 evaporators and 16 superheaters. ZiO-Podolsk manufactured similar equipment for Russia’s Beloyarsk NPP and China’s first experimental fast neutron reactor, CEFR.

During the meeting, representatives of ZiO-Podolsk informed the auditors about the technological capabilities of the enterprise, reference projects in the nuclear industry, and also spoke about the quality management system of the equipment produced at the plant.

The delegation visited the production units of ZiO-Podolsk, where steam generator modules are manufactured. The parties discussed issues that need to be agreed in order to optimise control processes during production to ensure the equipment manufacturing schedule.

Construction of the CFR-600 sodium-cooled pool-type fast breeder reactor in Xiapu County, Fujian Province began at the end of 2017. Commissioning is scheduled for 2024. It is planned that the reactor will generate 1,500 MWt and 600 MWe. Russia and China already have a positive experience of cooperation on fast reactors: the CEFR reactor (65 MWt and 20MWe at the Chinese Institute of Atomic Energy, which was launched in 2010, was built with Russian assistance.