Hainan Nuclear Power Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), signed the world's first capacity-building execution deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) on the sidelines of an international conference on SMRs and their applications.

The international conference on SMRs and their applications was held by the IAEA at its headquarters in Vienna of Austria from October 21 to 25.

IAEA Deputy Director General Liu Hua and the permanent representative and ambassador plenipotentiary and extraordinary of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna Li Song attended the signing ceremony.

The new deal marked that the global SMRs capacity-building work will begin in Hainan Nuclear Power under the IAEA framework. The two sides are expected to help the IAEA member states undertake the design, construction and operation preparation of SMRs.

Linglong One is the world's first small modular pressurized water reactor with the IAEA's Generic Reactor Safety Review and the world's first commercial onshore SMR. It is reputed for intensive and compact design, flexible construction requirements and multiple functions, which enable nuclear power to be widely reachable.

The China's independently-developed nuclear power technology has captivated worldwide attention and earned a nickname of "nuclear power storage".

As owner of the world's first commercial onshore SMR, Hainan Nuclear Power has gained rich and professional knowledge in the technological development and application capacity-building of SMRs. It will proactively undertake such activities as SMRs-related education, training and HR development, engage in technological assistance programs and cross-border technological discussions, and make contributions to the deployment of SMRs across the globe.

The signing of the deal will further promote the cultivation and development of global SMRs and underscore China's leading position in SMRs-related technology. The CNNC will firmly grasp the cutting-edge opportunities brought by Linglong One in the realization of its corporate development, make full use of Linglong One's demonstration effects and technological advantage, and further promote the application of multi-functional SMRs technology with international reputation for its high cost-effectiveness, easy operation, safety, reliability, and potential for standardized and massive construction & operation.