China National Nuclear Power (CNNP) has awarded SNC Lavalin's subsidiary Candu Energy a contract for preliminary work on the proposed two Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) projects in China. The AHWR is a 700 MW Generation III reactor based on the Canadian Candu pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) technology. As part of the deal, Candu Energy will plan and prepare Safety Design Guides (SDG) and a description and assessment of the agreed to safety-related design changes. Construction could start in 2021.
CNNP is the majority owner of the Qinshan III nuclear power plant in China, which features two 677 MW PHWR/Candu reactors that were commissioned in 2002 and 2003, respectively. As of 2019, CNNP has around 18 GW of nuclear capacity, accounting for almost a third of China's nuclear capacity.
In September 2016, SNC-Lavalin, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Shanghai Electric signed an agreement in principle to create a joint venture to develop, market and construct the Advanced Fuel Candu Reactor (AFCR), a 700 MW Generation III reactor, in China. This AFCR technology can use both recycled uranium and thorium as fuel and includes a heavy-water moderator and heavy-water coolant in a pressure tube design.
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