Sichuan Establishes Nuclear Industry Platform, Advanced Microreactor Enters Engineering Phase

Recently, the Microreactor Industry Co-construction Conference and the unveiling ceremony of Sichuan Energy Nuclear Industry Co., Ltd. were held in Chengdu, marking that China's independently developed advanced microreactor technology has officially moved from the laboratory R&D stage into a critical period of engineering demonstration and industrialization. As an important vehicle for the central-local coordinated deployment of advanced nuclear energy, the platform will connect technology, capital, and application scenarios, and shore up shortcomings in the development of distributed nuclear energy.

It is reported that Sichuan Energy Nuclear Industry Co., Ltd. was jointly initiated and established by Sichuan Energy Development Group and the Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC), while simultaneously introducing multi-level capital empowerment including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Venture Capital Guidance Fund and the Chengdu Future Industry Venture Capital Fund, with initial registered capital of 1 billion yuan. The company is positioned as a comprehensive nuclear energy industry platform integrating technology R&D, project incubation, and industrial investment, focusing on three core tracks: advanced microreactors, green energy, and nuclear technology applications.

The core technology being industrialized this time is the uranium-zirconium hydride fuel and lead-bismuth cooled microreactor route pioneered globally by NPIC, featuring extreme miniaturization, high safety, and strong adaptability. The microreactor has an electrical power output ranging from 1 to 10 megawatts, with a compact core structure, and the entire equipment set can be integrated into two to three containers for multi-scenario transport; meanwhile, relying on the temperature self-feedback characteristics of uranium-zirconium hydride fuel and the atmospheric-pressure integrated core, it achieves "dual inherent safety" as a guarantee, and a single fuel loading can provide stable and continuous power supply for 5 to 10 years.

This cooperation has formed a clear industrial division of labor: NPIC provides core technology and talent, and Sichuan Energy Development Group integrates capital, application scenarios, and operational support, making every effort to advance the landing of the world's first uranium-zirconium hydride lead-bismuth microreactor demonstration project. The establishment of this platform has successfully opened up the industrialization channel of "research—capital—application scenarios" for advanced microreactors, providing a replicable Sichuan solution for distributed nuclear energy applications such as power supply for remote islands and reefs, electricity for remote mining areas, and green energy supply for computing centers in China.