On 4 November, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced through its WeChat platform that that the Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) assemblies, developed under the leadership of the Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC), had undergone two extended cycles of irradiation testing and operated in a reactor for three years before being removed. As a result, China has achieved full lifetime testing of ATF assemblies in an operating commercial reactor.

This achievement marks a critical step in the independent development of China’s ATF assemblies and is an important milestone in keeping China's nuclear fuel R&D at the forefront of international nuclear fuel technology.

(Source: China National Nuclear Corporation)