Argentina and China sign landmark nuclear export deal

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2015-02-09

The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, built by the
Guangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company, July 12, 2013. (File photo/CNS)

On Feb. 4, Chinese and Argentine officials signed agreements in Beijing on collaboration to build two nuclear power reactors for the South American country, Shanghai's National Business Daily reports.

While one of the reactors will be a heavy-water model, the other will be a pressurized-water model based on China's self-developed third-generation nuclear technology.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina, who witnessed the signing with her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, said on Twitter that the two reactors will require investment of US$5.8 billion and US$7 billion, respectively.

The third-generation nuclear technology, known as the ACP1000 or Hualong One, is jointly developed by China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC), the country's largest nuclear power plant operator, and China General Nuclear Power Group.

CNNC said on its website that the project marks the first time China has exported its third-generation nuclear technology to Latin America.

Wang Xiaotao, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said Feb. 6 that the heavy-water reactor to be built for Argentina will be the first to be exported by China.

Wang promised that China will pay attention to the safety of the countries receiving its nuclear technology and help to boost their economic and industrial development.