| China Fast Reactor 600 (CFR-600) | |
| Location: | Xiapu County, Fujian province, China |
| Coordinates: | 26.8036°N 120.155°W |
| Concept: | Fast breeder reactor |
| Generation: | Generation IV |
| Status: | Under construction |
| Online: | 2023, 2026 expected |
| Fuel: | UO2 (initial stage) MOX (later stage) |
| Spectrum Description: | Fast |
| Coolant: | Liquid sodium |
| Electric: | 600 MWe gross |
| Thermal: | 1500 MWth |
The CFR-600 (Xiapu fast reactor pilot project) is a sodium-cooled pool-type fast-neutron nuclear reactor under construction in Xiapu County, Fujian province, China, on Changbiao Island.[1] It is a generation IV demonstration project by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Construction started in late 2017. These reactors are expected to be connected to the grid in 2023 and 2025.[2] The reactor will have an output of 1500 MW thermal power and 600 MW electric power.[3] [1] The fuel will be supplied by TVEL, subsidiary of Rosatom, according to the agreement signed in 2019.[4]
The CFR-600 is part of the Chinese plan to reach a closed nuclear fuel cycle. Fast neutron reactors are the main future nuclear power technology in China.
A larger commercial-scale reactor, the CFR-1000, is also planned.[1]
On the same site, the building of a second 600 MW fast reactor CFR-600 was started in December 2020[5] and four 1000 MW CAP1000 are proposed.[6]
Such breeder reactors have the possibility to be used to produce weapons grade plutonium for nuclear weapon manufacturing purposes.[2]
| Xiapu-1 | FBR | 642 MWe | 682 MWe | 1882 MWt | 2017-12-29 | 2023 | [7] | |
| Xiapu-2 | FBR | 642 MWe | 682 MWe | 1882 MWt | 2020-12-27 | 2025 |
Al Jazeera reported in 2021 that the reactors are controversial because they produce weapons-grade plutonium, offering a dual military and civilian use. China has stopped annual voluntary declarations to the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] on its stocks of plutonium.[8]