Westinghouse to help develop Chinese nuclear reactor

Westinghouse Electric Co. will help a Chinese nuclear technology developer build a new type of reactor to meet rising demand for atomic power.

State Nuclear Power Technology Corp. plans to develop two CAP 1400 reactors that will be based on Westinghouse’s existing AP 1000 design, Guo Hongbo, director of general office at the state-controlled company, said in an interview in Beijing today.


State Nuclear Power is leading the development of the CAP 1400 units and will own the brand, according to Guo, declining to comment on costs. Westinghouse will play a supportive role by providing feedback on design, Guo said. Construction of the first CAP 1400 reactor in Rongcheng, Shandong province, may commence in 2013 and the reactor may start up by 2017, Guo said. The development of the second, also in Rongcheng, may begin about six months after work on the first has started, according to Guo.