An International Atomic Energy Agency team of experts has completed a review of long-term operational safety at unit 1 of the Qinshan nuclear power plant in China's Zhejiang province.

China National Nuclear Corporation says it is now capable of mass producing China Fuel 3 (CF3) fuel assemblies for the domestically-designed HPR1000 (Hualong One) pressurised water reactor design.

The third and final steam generator has been installed at unit 6 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province. The ACPR1000 reactor is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of 2021.

A preliminary investors' agreement has today been signed between Romanian national nuclear company Nuclearelectrica and China General Nuclear (CGN) regarding the completion of units 3 and 4 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant.

Cold hydrostatic testing has begun at unit 5 of the Fuqing nuclear power plant in China's Fujian province, the first of two demonstration Hualong One reactors under construction at the site. The tests mark the first time the reactor systems are operated together with the auxiliary systems.

China General Nuclear and China Huaneng are to cooperate in nuclear power, fuel and technology through a newly signed framework agreement.

In a first for the country, China has uprated its oldest power reactor, Qinshan 1, to 350 MWe (net) from its original 300 MWe. China National Nuclear Corporation said the engineering work "has important reference significance for the power enhancement of subsequent power stations, and plays an exemplary role in the life management of domestic nuclear power plants".

The second of three steam generators at China's forthcoming Tianwan 6 nuclear power unit has been installed, completing a 12-day process that involved bringing the component through a hatch and rotating to a vertical position.

Alexey Bannik, vice president of China projects at Russia's AtomStroyExport (ASE), has given the schedule for new VVER-1200 units at Tianwan and Xudabao. Construction of Tianwan unit 7 will start in May 2021, and that of Xudabao unit 3 and of Tianwan unit 8 will start five and 10 months later, respectively. The launch of the Tianwan units is scheduled for 2026 and 2027 while the third and fourth units at the Xudabao plant will both be launched in 2028.

China wants to promote nuclear energy cooperation in the 'Belt and Road', and is focusing on new technology deployment and completing its radioactive waste management strategy, a conference in Beijing heard. The Belt and Road Initiative is a development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and international organisations.

A research centre to support China's push for nuclear fusion power has been approved. It will  be able to test large superconducting magnets and filters under operational conditions.

China's Ministry of Environment is proceeding with the environmental impact assessment for a project to build an ACP100 small modular reactor at Changjiang, Hainan, with construction to begin by the end of this year.