Chinese centrifuges ready for commercial use

Wednesday, 21 November 2018

CNNC, which has independent intellectual property rights for the technology, said yesterday that China National Nuclear Enrichment Co had approved 'national completion acceptance'.

CNNC said: "This indicates that China's uranium enrichment centrifuge has been upgraded and has large-scale commercial conditions. The overall technical level and economic efficiency of uranium enrichment have further improved and reached the international advanced level."

It added: "Over the years, under the guidance and support of the relevant ministries and commissions of the higher authorities, the majority of scientific research and construction personnel of CNNC have made painstaking efforts for the development and engineering construction of a new generation of uranium enrichment centrifuges in China."

The achievement will play an important role in safeguarding national energy security, enhancing international competitiveness, and accelerating the development of a strong national nuclear industry, CNNC said.

The first batch of demonstration units was successfully launched on 29 December last year and was put into production on 20 March.

Most of the 500 commercial nuclear power reactors operating or under construction in the world today require uranium enriched in the U-235 isotope for their fuel. The commercial process employed for this enrichment involves gaseous uranium in centrifuges.