China has launched the world's first production line for high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel elements, Xinhua reported on 17 July. the
Mass production has begun at China North Nuclear Fuel, based in Baotou in Inner Mongolia. Some 200,000 spherical fuel elements have been produced, marking a transition from a test production line to an industrial operation, according to Wang Shoujun, president of China National Nuclear Corporation, parent company of China North Nuclear Fuel.
The production line, with a designed capacity of 300,000 spherical fuel element a year, will provide fuel for the demonstration high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR-PM) under construction at Shidaowan in Shandong Province.
China has intellectual property rights for the production line, which started operation in 2016.
