OREANDA-NEWS. November 8, 2007. Techsnabexport and China Nuclear Energy Industry Corp. have concluded a framework agreement for supply of Russian uranium to China for 11 years starting from 2010

During the meeting of the Russian and Chinese prime ministers in Moscow on Nov 6, the parties concluded a number of framework agreements for further cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The head of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Energy and the chairman of the Commission on Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense of China signed a protocol to the Dec 18 1992 Russian-Chinese inter-governmental agreement for joint construction of a gas centrifuge plant for enrichment of uranium for nuclear power plants in the territory of China.

In the meantime, the director general of Techsnabexport (Tenex) (100% subsidiary of Atomenergoprom) and President of China Nuclear Energy Industry Corp. (CNEIC) signed a framework agreement concerning the construction of the 4th unit of the gas centrifuge plant.

The parties have agreed to draft relevant contracts. Tenex has pledged to help China to build the 4th unit of the gas centrifuge plant with a capacity of 500,000 SWU/year and to supply uranium products for the needs of China’s nuclear power industry for 11 years starting from 2010.

As was reported earlier, during the same meeting President of Atomstroyexport CJSC Sergey Shmatko and General Manager of Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation (JNPC) Jiang Guoyuan signed a framework agreement for the construction of the 3rd and 4th units of Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant (China).

The first unit of Tianwan NPP was commissioned on June 2 2007, the second one – on Sept 12 2007. Presently, both units are operating safely at full capacity and are supplying electricity to Jiangsu province.

Note:

Three units of gas centrifuge plant have been built so far under the above agreement and the additional protocol to it signed in 1996:

— the 1st unit (200,000 SWU/year) in Oct 1996.

— the 2nd unit (300,000 SWU/year) in May 1998.

— the 3rd unit (500,000 SWU/year) in Nov 2001.