Press release of Atomstroyexport Joint-Stock Company

 October 19, 2009

Atomstroyexport is preparing for Tianwan NPP capacity increase

The State Corporation Rosatom and the Chinese Nuclear Industry Corporation (CNIC) signed the Protocol by which they confirmed their wish and intention to continue cooperation in construction of the second phase of Tianwan NPP, i.e. Units 3&4. With this purpose the sides have agreed to set up a joint task force, which should agree upon the cost of Tianwan NPP expansion. It is planned, that Atomstroyexport Joint-Stock Company will implement the project.

Tianwan NPP is the largest project of economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. The first phase of Tianwan NPP, consisting of two power units, was constructed by Atomstroyexport Joint-Stock Company in pursuance of the Intergovernmental Agreement between RF and PRC about cooperation in the construction of the nuclear power plant in PRC. Having handed over the first unit of Tianwan NPP to the Chinese customer on June 2, 2007, the second unit – on September 12, 2007, Atomstroyexport was the first company among those, working in the international NPP market, to construct power units of new generation. The two-year guarantee operation of both power units was completed on September 12, 2009. The respective protocols of the negotiations concerning final acceptance of the power units were signed between Atomstroyexport Joint-Stock Company and Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation (JNPC).

Since the start-up of the first two units, Tianwan NPP has generated over 30 billion kWh of electric power, both units are operated stably at the level of 1060 MW contract rated capacity. The general layout of Tianwan NPP provides expansion of the plant up to eight power units of 1000 MW capacity each.

About the project:

Tianwan NPP, constructed under the advanced Russian design, is the most safe among the plants in operation in PRC. Tianwan NPP is in compliance with the international standards of nuclear and radiation safety. The reactor building is covered by the double containment: the inner tight containment excludes radiation penetration into the environment, and the external containment is intended for protection of the reactor against undesirable environmental impacts. The catcher for retention and cooldown of core melt is installed under the reactor pressure vessel.  It is provided so that in case of failure the molten core fills the catcher and does not destroy the foundation under the reactor pressure vessel and reactor building. The catcher is characterized by the original technical solutions, which have no analogues in the world practice of NPP construction. China became the first country to possess such device. The design of the catcher developed by the Russian engineers has successfully passed examination by the Russian and Chinese safety authorities and has been approved by IAEA. The four-train safety system structure is used at the plant, a combination of the active and passive protection devices is applied, and the digital instrumentation and control system (I*C) is operated. 

Atomstroyexport JSC (JSC ASE) is the leading state engineering company subordinated to the State Corporation Rosatom implementing intergovernmental and commercial agreements on constructing nuclear facilities abroad. Currently Atomstroyexport is implementing orders, which make about 20% of the world competitive market volume. Atomstroyexport is one of the largest suppliers of the Russian high technologies abroad. The company relies its activity on the semi-centennial experience of the Russian nuclear engineering industry and constructs nuclear power plants of new generation in full compliance with the respective international requirements and IAEA recommendations.

Contact information of JSC ASE press service:

737-9038

 press@atomstroyexport.ru