The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Environment Agency have stated that the UK Hualong Pressurised Water Reactor (UK HPR1000) is suitable for construction.

The construction of the reactor is, however, subject to the necessary licensing, planning permission and environmental permits, after completion of in-depth evaluation of the nuclear reactor design by the ONR and Environment Agency.

The pressurised water reactor is based on the Hualong One power plant, designed by China General Nuclear Group (CGN).

The ONR and the Environment Agency, the regulatory bodies that conduct the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) on designs of new reactors, have stated this reactor meets the regulatory expectations in terms of safety, security and environmental protection aspects at this stage of the regulatory process.

ONR has given a Design Acceptance Confirmation, while the Environment Agency has issued a Statement of Design Acceptability to China General Nuclear, EDF and General Nuclear International for the UK HPR1000.

China General Nuclear, EDF and General Nuclear International are the partners in this GDA of the water reactor.

Environment Agency nuclear regulation manager Saffron Price Finnerty said: “We have completed a rigorous assessment of the UK HPR1000 and concluded that it is capable of meeting those high standards that we expect. This is why we are issuing a Statement of Design Acceptability for the UK HPR1000 to the partners in this design, China General Nuclear, EDF and General Nuclear International Ltd.

“It is a credit to the hard work of all the people involved in this assessment, in the UK, China and France, that this work programme has been completed on a time that was proposed in January 2017.”

ONR chief nuclear inspector Mark Foy said: “The UK HPR1000 design has been assessed against the high levels of safety and security expected in the UK, and issuing the Design Acceptance Confirmation – after rigorous and detailed assessments undertaken by a wide range of my specialist inspectors – means we consider the UK HPR1000 design is suitable for deployment in the UK.”

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Image: ONR has given a Design Acceptance Confirmation, while the Environment Agency has issued a Statement of Design Acceptability. Credit: © Crown copyright