China’s first floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) is nearing completion, Chiang Nayilian, an engineer of the Chinese Shipbuilding Corporation (CSIC), told Reuters. He said that the technology for the introduction of reactors is ready, and the first demonstration project will soon be deployed on the drilling platforms in Bohai Bay in northern China. "We are confident that we will be able to finish it very soon," he said but did not give an exact date, saying that the unit would be ready before 2020.
The demonstration project is being developed by CSIC, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China General Nuclear Power (CGN).
China has urged nuclear firms to develop technologies that will help boost domestic capacity and win projects abroad. Chang said floating reactors also served a broader political goal to strengthen China's maritime presence. "We in the nuclear and shipbuilding industries have a call of duty to construct a strong maritime power," he said in a speech to an industry meeting in October. China National Nuclear Power launched a floating nuclear power subsidiary in August.
