China's first high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor was connected to the electricity grid and started operation in Beijing Tuesday.

The nuclear reactor, located 40 km from downtown Beijing, China's capital city, marked another step forward in China's utilization of the latest nuclear technology for civilian purpose, said Professor Wu Zongxin of the Institute of Nuclear Energy Technology under the Tsinghua University.

China is the fifth country to have this technology, following the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan, according to Wu, who is in charge of the development program.

"The civilian use of nuclear power in China has moved into a new stage," he said.

The new nuclear reactor, with a power generation capacity of 10 megawatts, has passed a two-year trial run.

It is able to create a temperature three times higher than conventional nuclear reactors, leading to a high power generating capacity. Helium is used as its coolant.

The reactor is also able to shut down and cool automatically in an emergency. "Accidents like the 1986 Chernobyl disaster will by no means happen with the new type of nuclear reactor," Wu said.

The research and development of the reactor, with a total investment of 250 million yuan, is a key project under the High and New Technology Research and Development Program (Program 863) of the Chinese government.

It has passed through 100 security-related tests, including an environmental impact assessment, since it started the trial run in December 2000.

China had an advantage in developing these kinds of nuclear reactors as the key equipment of the nuclear reactor was designed and developed by Chinese scientists, Wu said.

China has had two conventional nuclear power plants in commercial use so far. Another four conventional nuclear power generators are being built.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2003)