newswire.ca
AECL signs agreement with China to assess use of thorium fuel in CANDU reactors
PINGHU, China, July 14 /CNW/ - Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) has
signed an agreement with China's Third Qinshan Nuclear Power Company (TQNPC),
China North Nuclear Fuel Corporation (CNNFC) and Nuclear Power Institute of
China (NPIC) to cooperate in assessing the use of thorium fuel in CANDU(R)
power reactors.
The agreement is to jointly develop and demonstrate the use of thorium
fuel and to study the commercial and technical feasibility of its full-scale
use in CANDU reactors such as the twin CANDU 6 units built at Qinshan III,
located southwest of Shanghai.
As the nuclear renaissance gathers momentum, more and more countries are
seeking alternative fuel options. Uranium and thorium are the basic materials
for nuclear fission energy. However, thorium is three to four times more
abundant than uranium and is widely distributed in nature as an easily
exploitable resource in many countries such as China and India.
Canadian Consul General Nadir Patel witnessed the signing ceremony
between representatives of AECL, TQNPC, NPIC and CNNFC. The ceremony was held
at the conclusion of a two-day technical seminar on Enhanced CANDU 6 and
thorium fuel.
"This is another milestone in the four-party cooperation on development,
demonstration and deployment of advanced CANDU thorium fuel in China", said
Mr. Dakuan Li, General Manager of TQNPC.
This new agreement is phase two of a cooperation agreement signed in
November 2008 that focused on demonstrating the use of recovered uranium in a
CANDU Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). First stage of the agreement, to
be completed by October 31, 2009, is a joint feasibility study to examine the
economic feasibility of the thorium proposal.
"CANDU nuclear technology has the potential to make a major contribution
to reducing China's dependence on imported nuclear fuel resources by utilizing
abundant domestic thorium resources", stated AECL's Vice President of Product
Development Jerry Hopwood. "This signing marks the initiation of an important
step to demonstrate the use of thorium fuel in commercial CANDU reactors."
CANDU PHWR technology offers clear advantages over other reactor
technologies in using thorium fuel. AECL has investigated thorium fuels for
over 50 years, including tests in a prototype CANDU power reactor in Canada,
with very promising results.
About the EC6
The Enhanced CANDU 6(R) (EC6) is a Generation III 740 MWe heavy
water-cooled, heavy water-moderated, natural-uranium fuelled pressure tube
reactor retaining the proven features of the CANDU 6 design while
incorporating design and safety improvements to ensure that the safety,
operation and performance of the Enhanced CANDU 6 meet modern international
standards.
About AECL
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is a full service nuclear technology
company providing services to nuclear utilities around the world. Established
in 1952, AECL is the designer and builder of CANDU technology including the
CANDU 6, one of the world's top-performing reactors. AECL's 5,000 employees
deliver cutting edge nuclear services, R&D support, design, and engineering,
construction management, specialized technology, refurbishment, waste
management and decommissioning in support of CANDU reactor products. More
information on AECL and CANDU reactor technology can be found at www.aecl.ca.
For further information: Dale Coffin, Director, Corporate
Communications, AECL, (905) 403-7457 |
