The brief

Analyst view

• One of China's largest power producers with 130,000 employees operating diverse power sources.
• Leads HTR-PM at Shidao Bay: first Gen-IV reactor; commercial operation January 2026.
• HTR-PM uses TRISO fuel and passive cooling; no meltdown risk if active systems fail.

Technical approach

As reported

Pebble-bed design

Modular fuel spheres

Graphite pebbles hold TRISO fuel, allowing continuous refueling without reactor shutdown.

TRISO fuel

Multi-layered particle protection

Uranium particles coated in carbon and silicon carbide withstand 1,600°C and contain fission products.

Passive cooling

Safety through physics, not pumps

Heat conducts from fuel to vessel and radiates away. No active cooling needed.