China General Nuclear Power Group

China General Nuclear Power Group
Company type	State-owned enterprise
Industry	Energy
Founded	1994
Headquarters	Beijing, China
Area served	China, international
Key people	He Yu (former chairman), Qian Zhimin (former chairman)
Products	Nuclear power, wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power
Owner	State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC)

China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) (), previously known as China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (), is a Chinese state-owned energy enterprise governed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC). As of , CGN holds the position as the foremost nuclear power operator within China, commanding more than half of the domestic market, and stands as the largest nuclear power construction firm worldwide.

CGN oversees operations at nuclear facilities including Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, Ling Ao Nuclear Power Plant, Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant, and Ningde Nuclear Power Plant. The company currently has five additional nuclear power stations under development, with plans for two further sites. Beyond its nuclear portfolio, CGN is also engaged in generating electricity through wind, solar, and hydroelectric sources.

History

Founded in 1994 with a registered capital of RMB 10.2 billion, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co., Ltd. (CGNPC) was established with a primary focus on nuclear energy. CGNPC serves as the principal entity within China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG), which comprises over twenty wholly owned or majority-controlled subsidiaries. Together with China National Nuclear Corporation, it ranks among China’s two dominant enterprises in nuclear power generation and uranium mining.

The company was instrumental in the development of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant and initially concentrated its efforts on managing this plant and related operations within Guangdong province.

In 2005, Qian Zhimin assumed the roles of chairman and Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary, steering the company toward becoming a "clean energy enterprise" centered on nuclear power. During his leadership, CGN initiated its inaugural wind power project in Jilin (2006), hydropower developments in Sichuan (2006) and Guangxi (2008), as well as its first solar energy project in Gansu (2009).

In April 2009, CGN secured US$1.03 billion through a fund dedicated to nuclear and associated energy initiatives. This represented the first industrial fund launched by a state-owned enterprise with approval from the State Council. Major financial institutions such as Bank of China and China Development Bank participated, with a target fund size of 10 billion yuan.

In alignment with the Go Out policy and Hu Jintao administration’s emphasis on energy security, Qian expanded CGN’s mining holdings both domestically and abroad to strengthen supply chain stability. He restructured the organization by grouping similar assets under subsidiaries within CGN’s holding structure, established new subsidiaries focused on nuclear technology, and collaborated with China Huaneng Group and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to form a research institute. Wind and hydropower assets were also reorganized during this period. Qian departed from his position in 2010.

He Yu succeeded Qian as chairman and Party Secretary in 2010. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, China's pace of nuclear development decelerated, prompting He to shift greater emphasis toward wind and solar power while boosting international commercial ventures. He founded overseas branches and local entities across South Africa, France, and the United Kingdom, encouraging subsidiaries to pursue foreign markets through a decentralized expansion model.

In May 2013, reflecting its broadened scope beyond Guangdong province, the company adopted its current name: China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN).

December 2014 saw CGN raise $3 billion via an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong. That same month, it acquired three UK-based wind farms totaling 73 megawatts from EDF Energy for about £100 million.

In November 2015, CGN agreed to purchase energy assets from 1Malaysia Development Berhad valued at approximately $2.3 billion—an acquisition linked to the wider 1MDB scandal involving extensive government corruption.

He Yu’s leadership concluded in 2020.

As a state-owned enterprise under State Council supervision through SASAC, CGN remains China’s largest domestic nuclear power operator with over half of the market share as of 2024 and continues to be recognized as the world’s leading nuclear power construction company.

U.S. sanctions

The United States has imposed sanctions on CGN due to its efforts to obtain advanced American nuclear technology for military applications within China. In 2016, the United States Department of Justice formally accused CGN of misappropriating nuclear secrets from the U.S. Investigations by the FBI revealed a conspiracy involving CGN and a senior advisor aimed at aiding China’s development of nuclear materials in contravention of U.S. legislation.

In August 2019, CGN was placed on the Entity List by the U.S. Department of Commerce, preventing U.S. companies from supplying products to CGN amid concerns about technology being diverted for military purposes. According to China Daily, this action was intended to impede China's 'Made in China 2025' strategy during the ongoing trade tensions between the two nations. By November 2020, an executive order barred American individuals and entities from holding equity stakes in firms associated with the People's Liberation Army, including CGN.

CGN's participation in nuclear projects within the United Kingdom, such as managing two power plants, has raised national security concerns among Members of Parliament. In September 2021, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission halted shipments of nuclear materials to CGN, citing risks related to national security.

Reactor designs

CGN’s first nuclear power facility utilizes reactors designed and constructed by the French firm Framatome, specifically the M310 reactors installed at the Daya Bay facility.

CPR-1000

Derived from the M310, CGN engineered a Generation II pressurized water reactor known as the CPR-1000. This design is modeled after units 5 and 6 at France’s Gravelines Nuclear Power Station. The CPR-1000 features a 1086 MWe output, a three-loop system, and contains 157 fuel assemblies enriched to 4.5% uranium-235. The fuel assembly design is based on AREVA’s 17x17 AFA 3G M5 model, which can be manufactured domestically within China. Key attributes include a potential operational lifespan exceeding 40 years, an 18-month refueling interval, digital control systems, hydrogen recombiners, and containment spray pumps.

However, some intellectual property rights related to the CPR-1000 remain with Areva, restricting its commercial export opportunities internationally.

ACPR-1000

By 2010, CGNPG progressed to a Generation III reactor named ACPR-1000, which replaced CPR-1000 components limited by intellectual property constraints. The goal was to achieve autonomous export capability by 2013. Development partners included Dongfang Electric, Shanghai Electric, Harbin Electric, China First Heavy Industries, and China Erzhong.

The ACPR-1000 core consists of 157 fuel assemblies with an active length of approximately 14 feet and is designed for a 60-year service life. It incorporates advanced safety enhancements such as a core catcher and dual containment structures in addition to ten significant technical upgrades over the CPR-1000 model. This reactor was also the first Chinese design to employ a domestically developed digital control system.

Hualong One

In 2012, directives from Beijing led China General Nuclear (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to unify their Generation III reactor designs. This resulted in combining CGN’s ACPR-1000 and CNNC’s ACP1000—both evolved from the French Generation II M310—into a standardized platform called the Hualong One. Although both corporations maintain separate supply chains, their versions exhibit minor differences; units supplied by CGN retain certain ACPR-1000 characteristics. Approximately 85% of components used are produced domestically.

The Hualong One delivers a gross electrical output of 1170 MWe and a net output of 1090 MWe, designed for a lifespan of 60 years. It includes both passive and active safety systems along with double containment structures. The reactor core consists of 177 fuel assemblies and operates on an 18-month refueling schedule, achieving capacity factors up to 90%. CNNC asserts that its safety technologies comply with leading international standards.

Hualong Two

CNNC intends to initiate the construction of Hualong Two by the year 2024. This model is designed to enhance cost efficiency by shortening the building period by twelve months and decreasing expenses by approximately 25%, while utilizing technology comparable to that of Hualong One.

EPR

In November 2007, CGN entered into an agreement with Areva to develop the Taishan nuclear facility employing Areva's EPR technology, making CGN one of the pioneers in advancing nuclear plants with generation III reactor capabilities.

Nuclear stations

Currently operational facilities include:

Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant,
Ling Ao Nuclear Power Plant,
Phase I of Ningde Nuclear Power Plant,
Phase I of Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant,
Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station,
Taishan Nuclear Power Plant.

Facilities under development consist of phase II expansions at Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant and Ningde Nuclear Power Plant.

Projects in planning stages encompass Lufeng Nuclear Power Plant, early construction at Xianning Nuclear Power Plant, as well as Wuhu Nuclear Power Plant and Jiangsu's Second Nuclear Power Project.

External links