China's Research Reactors

China's Research Reactors

China currently operates 14-15 research reactors. According to the open source literature, China currently operates 15 research reactors, and is developing one.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), China operates a total of 13 research reactors: 10 research reactors, one test reactor, one prototype reactor, and one critical assembly. Of the operational research reactors, five are pool, one is tank, one is heavy water, three are slowpoke MNSR, two are critical assembly, and one is zero power. Their total output is 161,081.050 kW power steady.

The United States and China have discussed Beijing's possible participation in the US Reduced Enrichment in Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) program, run by the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. Beijing has shown interest in participating in the program, under which it would convert its HEU-fueled research reactors to use low enriched uranium (LEU).

CHINA'S RESEARCH REACTORS
LOCATION	REACTOR NAME
China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), Beijing	Zero Power Fast (Critical) Reactor HWRR-2 --Under IAEA safeguards--subsidiary arrangement) MNSR-IAE SPR-IAE
Institute of Nuclear Energy Technology (INET), Tsinghua University, Beijing	LTHR (NHR-5) Tsinghua (Pool) Reactor HTR-10
Southwest Reactor Engineering Research and Design Academy (First Academy), Jiajiang, Sichuan Province	HFETR HFETR Critical PPR Pulsing MJTR SPRR-300 Zero (Low) Power Reactor (shut-down)
Shandong Geology Bureau	MNSR-SD
Shenzhen University	MNSR-SZ
(next-generation research reactor)	CARR --60 MWth --To use LEU fuel
Located at Ho-Fei	Tokamak-7 reactor --Russian-designed

[Sources: International Nuclear Safety Center Database; World Nuclear Industry Handbook 1996, p. 103; Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium 1996, p. 489; "Factfile: Affiliations And Nuclear Activities Of 172 NPT Parties," Arms Control Today, March 1995, p. 33; U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Technologies Underlying Weapons of Mass Destruction (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 1993), p. 182; IAEA, Nuclear Research Reactors in the World, December 1994, pp. 9, 29, 32; Mark Hibbs, "U.S. Aims to Assist China in HEU Reactor Conversion," Nuclear Fuel, 21 October 1996, p. 10.]

CHINA INSTITUTE OF ATOMIC ENERGY (CIAE), Beijing

Unit	Type(s)	Operator	Fuel	Power
Zero Power Fast Reactor	Fast critical	CIAE	90% HEU	0.05 kW
HWRR-2 (under IAEA safeguards)	Heavy water	IAE, Dept. of Reactor Engineering and Technology	3 % LEU	15 MW
MNSR-IAE	Tank-in-pool	(same)	90% HEU	27 kW
SPR-IAE	Pool	(same)	10% LEU	3.5 MW

INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY (INET), Tsinghua University, Beijing

Unit	Type	Operator	Fuel	Power
LTHR (NHR-5)	Heating prototype	INET	3% LEU	5 MWth
Tsinghua Reactor	Pool--2 cores	INET	10% LEU	2.8 MW
HTR-10	HGTR	INET	17% LEU	10 MWth

SOUTHWEST REACTOR ENGINEERING RESEARCH AND DESIGN ACADEMY (FIRST ACADEMY), Jiajiang, Sichuan Province

Unit	Type	Operator	Fuel	Power
HFETR	Tank	First Academy	93% HEU [1]	125 MWth
HFETR Critical	Critical assembly	First Academy	90% HEU	0 kW
PPR Pulsing	Pool UZRH	First Academy	20% MEU	1 MW
SPRR-300	Pool	First Academy	10% LEU	3.7 MW
MJTR	Pool	First Academy	90% HEU	5 MW
Zero Power Reactor	Critical assembly	First Academy

[1] China has reportedly told US officials that it plans to convert the HFETR to use LEU fuel.

SHANDONG GEOLOGY BUREAU

Unit	Type	Operator	Fuel	Power
MNSR-SD	Tank-in-pool	Shandong Geology Bureau	90% HEU	27 kW

SHENZHEN UNIVERSITY

Unit	Type	Operator	Fuel	Power
MNSR-SZ	Tank-in-pool	Shenzhen University	90% HEU	27 kW

China's Fast Breeder Reactor Program

China's Nuclear Power Reactors

Nuclear Facilities and Organizations

Updated 4/29/2003

This 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.