At a Dec. 16, 2006, meeting in Beijing, the Chinese government awarded U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Corporation a multi-billion dollar contract to supply China with its next generation of nuclear reactors. The Westinghouse deal represents the single largest international nuclear power transaction in history. During the next few months, the two countries will negotiate a framework agreement to govern the sale. After that, Westinghouse and China National Nuclear will sign a detailed sales contract for the four 1,000-megawatt reactors. Chinese and American companies will build two of the four reactor units at Sanmen in Zhejiang Province and two at Yangjiang in Guangdong. Stephen Tritch, Westinghouse president and chief executive officer, said the company wants the plants to start operating in 2013. Besides the Westinghouse purchase, Chinese officials have indicated they want to cooperate with the United States on other nuclear energy programs. Beijing agreed earlier this year to join the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). Under this U.S.-led effort, the major civilian nuclear power producing countries have been collaborating since 2001 to develop a Generation IV nuclear reactor that would be more efficient and less waste-intensive than existing reactors. The GIF has identified six high-priority reactor types whose technology requires further research.
Chinese-U.S. Deal Opens Opportunities for Nuclear Cooperation
