Successful hot test of China's pilot reprocessing plant

On December 21, 2010 China successfully tested reprocessing of power reactor spent fuel at its pilot reprocessing plant. The plant, which was built in 1997-2004 at Lanzhou nuclear complex, is part of China's effort to acquire technologies of the closed nuclear fuel cycle. China has been discussing acquisition of a commercial reprocessing facility from France and MOX fabrication technology from Belgium. It is also developing fast neutron reactors (with Russia's assistance).