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China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)

中国核工业总公司
 
No. 1 Sanlihe Nasanxiang, Xicheng District, Beijing  100822
Tel:  8610-68512211
Fax: 8610-68533989
Website: http://www.cnnc.com.cn

(In July 1999, CNNC was broken up into the China Nuclear Industrial Group and China Nuclear Engineering-Construction Group.)

GENERAL MANAGER: Kang Rixin
 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

On 4 May 1982, China's Ministry of Nuclear Industry (MNI) was created from the Second Ministry of Machine-Building, and was subsequently reorganized and renamed the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) six years later.

The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) was established on 16 September 1988 by the authority of the State Council. CNNC's president and vice-president are appointed by the Premier of the State Council. The CNNC is a self-supporting economic corporation, not a government administrative body. It now oversees all aspects of China's civilian and military nuclear programs. According to the CNNC, it "combines military production with civilian production, taking nuclear industry as the basis while developing nuclear power and promoting a diversified economy." CNNC is a nationwide industrial conglomerate integrating science, technology, industry, and international trade.

In the past, the CNNC functioned as a government bureau for the national nuclear industry and reported directly to the State Council. It oversaw China's nuclear-related corporations, manufacturers, institutions, research institutes, and plants, including those related to nuclear weapons. It was responsible for the design and operation of nuclear power plants; nuclear fuel production and supply, including the processing of natural uranium, uranium conversion and enrichment, fuel assembly fabrication, spent fuel reprocessing, and nuclear waste disposal; research and development of advanced reactors and nuclear fuel technology; nuclear training; import and export of nuclear equipment and technology; research and development in nuclear physics, nuclear fusion, lasers, nuclear chemical engineering, and nuclear instruments and equipment; and research and testing of power and research reactors and accelerators.

GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION: March 1998 - Present

As with all of China's five defense industrial ministries, the China National Nuclear Corporation was reorganized and restructured. Following the March 1998 meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC), the CNNC was split into several entities. First, the China Atomic Energy Agency (aka State Atomic Energy Agency), was separated from the CNNC and was placed under the control of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND). The CAEA is responsible for carrying out the administrative duties and government functions of China's nuclear industry as part of the new COSTIND; it will also address critical nonproliferation issues such as control of China's nuclear exports, nuclear safeguarding issues, and nuclear material control.

Second, the remaining bulk of the CNNC was broken into the China Nuclear Industrial Group (CNIG) and China Nuclear Engineering-Construction Group (CNECG). The CNIG will operate nuclear power stations, nuclear heat-supply reactors, scientific research reactors, radiation services and engage in R&D work related to nuclear energy. CNIG will also be responsible for mining of uranium into nuclear fuel, nuclear manufacturing for both military and civilian use, nuclear waste treatment and storage, and nuclear safety. CNECG, consisting of 13 business units, will be responsible for China's several nuclear construction projects. However, little progress has been made in this restructuring effort due to the inability of the government to make the nuclear facilities commercially viable. It has been reported that Premier Zhu Rongji has personally stepped in and ordered CNNC to solve its problems by March 1999 or risk punishment. [Sources: ôNuclear Sector Reform Under Way,ö China Daily, 5 February 1999; Mark Hibbs, ôWith Demand Below Projections, China May Drop Nuclear Projects,ö Nucleonics Week, 4 March 1999; Liu Weiling, "CNNC To Focus on Nuclear Products Technology," China Daily, 3 July 1999; "New Structure of China's nuclear industry," Nuclear Europe Worldscan, November/December 1999, pp. 55, 56.]

 

FUNCTIONS

CNNC employed over 280,000 people and oversaw 246 enterprises and institutions.

The goal of CNNC is to achieve self-reliance in the design, manufacture, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants, and to obtain fuel cycle nuclear technology.

In the past the CNNC thorough the China Atomic Energy Agency approves nuclear-related exports. As of 1990, CNNC had established trading ties with over 100 companies in over 40 countries.

According to Weixing Hu, "For the nuclear industry, defense conversion means a redirection to civilian nuclear programs. When it shifted its focus to nuclear energy programs, the [CNNC] began to diversify its products and to chase foreign customers in the international market...The CNNC's long-term goal is to achieve self-reliance in the design, manufacture, construction, and running of nuclear power plants, and to possess the full-cycle nuclear fuel technology. To achieve this objective, it needs, on the one hand, to introduce advanced Western technology and know-how into its program and, on the other hand, to export what it produces to the world market to support its foreign purchases." [Weixing Hu, "China's Nuclear Export Controls: Policy And Regulations," Nonproliferation Review, Winter 1994, p. 4.]

BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Li Donghui, Deputy Director-General

Manages foreign affairs in the nuclear field.

BUREAU OF NUCLEAR FUELS

Responsible for nuclear material control.

BUREAU OF NUCLEAR POWER

Operates China's nuclear power stations.

BUREAU OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Conducts research and development in nuclear technology.

BUREAU OF SECURITY

Ensures protection of facilities.

CNNC SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS:

[Sources: Nukem, September 1997; Yan Kong, "China's Nuclear Bureaucracy," Jane's Intelligence Review, July 1993, p. 325; DIA chart; Risk Report, November 1995, p. 6; "World Nuclear Industry Handbook 1995," Nuclear Engineering International, p. 133; Chen Zhaobo, "Development Of Nuclear Power In China," Nuclear Europe Worldscan, November-December 1995, p. 49; "Official Chides US Over Nuke Ban," NNN News, 2 January 1996; Mark Hibbs and Margaret L. Ryan, "Official Says China Developing Ability To Supply Entire PWRs," Nucleonics Week, 1 October 1992, pp. 4-5; Weixing Hu, "China's Nuclear Export Controls: Policy And Regulations," Nonproliferation Review, Winter 1994, pp. 4, 8.]

CNNC SUBORDINATE FACTORIES/PLANTS

CNNC SUBORDINATE INSTITUTES

CNNC SUBORDINATE BUREAUS OF GEOLOGIC EXPLORATION

CNNC SUBORDINATE CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION COMPANIES

CNSThis material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by MIIS.

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