Progressive Progress of Localization of Nuclear Grade Zirconium Materials - part 2

In March 2005, the company produced the first batch of Zirconium-4 alloy plates, rods and wires for heavy water reactors.

Shanghai Gaotai Rare and Precious Metals Co., Ltd.: Shanghai Gaotai has also established a zirconium pipe production line. The company was founded in May 1998 with a registered capital of 93.2 million yuan. The company is specialized in the production, research and development of nuclear fuel cladding tubes, rare and precious metal materials and high-precision metal pipes for nuclear power. At present, CNNC China Nuclear Fuel Element Co., Ltd. holds 50.82 million shares of the company, accounting for 54.53% of the total share capital; Garbo Group (600622) holds 21.78 million shares, accounting for 23.37% of the total share capital. The company produces various Zr-4 alloy tube rods and Zr-704 alloy tube rods for nuclear reactors, and φ 2.0～ φ Chemical zirconium and zirconium alloy seamless pipe products with 30mm specification and meeting various standards. The company has introduced advanced nuclear power pipe manufacturing technology from France and Canada, and has successively provided 300Mwe zirconium alloy clad tubes for nuclear power plants to CNNC Nuclear Fuel Element Co., Ltd. This product operates well in nuclear reactors; At the same time, CANDU tubes for heavy water nuclear reactors are also provided for Qinshan Phase III. At present, the company's zirconium alloy pipe production capacity is 70 tons/year, and it is planned to expand to 150 tons/year.

Progressive Progress of Localization of Nuclear Grade Zirconium Materials

Since the nuclear power project in the initial stage of China is an import project, and the nuclear power project is an auxiliary project, the required zirconium materials are supplied along with the winning company, and cannot be purchased by itself within a certain period of time. In addition, at present, the raw materials used for the production of zirconium alloy tubes and rods in China, such as tube blanks, slabs and other semi-finished products, are also imported, which determines that the domestic market of nuclear grade sponge zirconium downstream of zirconium is basically small.

However, with the accelerated localization process of nuclear grade zirconium materials, the domestic market of nuclear grade sponge zirconium is also opened.

Zirconium-4 is basically the zirconium alloy required by Guangdong Nuclear Power Station and Qinshan Nuclear Power Station in operation in China, and China has the production technology of this zirconium alloy. Since 2005, atomic level zirconium materials of Guangdong Nuclear Power Station and Qinshan Nuclear Power Station can be purchased by themselves, which provides a market for atomic level zirconium (hafnium) products in China.

Most of the second-generation+nuclear power plants under construction in China are CPR-1000, and the required zirconium alloy is the French M5 model. From March 1999 to April 2000, Framatome has completed the transfer of technology to our related companies, with the limitation period of 10 years. It means that after 2010, nuclear power plants that need M5 zirconium alloy can gradually purchase corresponding consumables by themselves.

Most of the third-generation nuclear power plants under construction in China are AP1000, and the required zirconium alloy is Westinghouse ZIRLO. Sinonuclear Baoji Zirconium Industry is the designated user of the full set of nuclear grade zirconium production and processing technology transferred from Westinghouse. At present, Sinonuclear Zirconium Industry has reached a preliminary technology transfer agreement with Westinghouse, and started to build a nuclear grade zirconium production line. At present, Sinonuclear Baoji Titanium Zirconium Industry Co., Ltd. has successfully developed Φ 280 mm and 300 kg, the first nuclear industrial Zirlo alloy ingot in China.

It is expected that after 2015, China will fully realize the localization of nuclear power equipment (including nuclear grade zirconium materials), and the construction speed of nuclear power plants will be significantly accelerated. There is still much room for nuclear power construction, and the demand for nuclear grade zirconium materials will rapidly increase.