6 Sep, 2010 - Beijing: China is building a gas centrifuge enrichment plant successfully by using Russia's technology, head of the Rosatom Nuclear Energy State Corporation, the regulatory body of the Russian nuclear complex, said.
China is planning to put the plant into operation in 2012, Sergei Kiriyenko said.
Summing up the results of the 14th session of the Russian-Chinese commission for nuclear cooperation, he said the plant "may put into operation ahead of schedule. A total of 87 per cent of equipment has been delivered and the construction works are practically over".
"We stated that Chinese partners were working ahead of schedule and with high quality," Kiriyenko said yesterday.
"Before to talk about further construction, let's complete the plant. If our Chinese partners show interest in this, we're ready to discuss this. But the key moment is that we're ready to discuss further cooperation by way of a joint venture," the Russian official said.
In addition, he recalled that Russia supplied enriched uranium to China and that TVEL Fuel Company had launched a nuclear fuel plant.
He also said Russia and China would build the 3rd and 4th units at the Tianwan nuclear power plant.
A contract may be signed by the year-end. The earlier reached agreements on nuclear cooperation have been implemented, Kiriyenko told Itar-Tass.
The Rosatom Nuclear Energy State Corporation head said that this year Russia and China had signed a protocol on launching the 1st and 2nd units of the Tianwan nuclear power plant.
"Today these are the most modern and most reliable units. Our Chinese partners, including engineers and supervision services, recognise this," he said. "Based on this we've started a project to build the 3rd and 4th units.
Corresponding protocols have been signed. By the end of September we hope to sign a technical protocol," Kiriyenko said.
source: www.zeenews.com
