Rolls-Royce wins nuclear reactor contract in China

Rolls-Royce said it won a contract worth many millions of euros to provide the neutron flux monitoring system for two nuclear reactors under construction in China.

The FTSE 100 engineer said under the contract with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) it would provide a complete system using its Spinline digital technology for the Zhangzhou 1 and Zhangzhou 2 reactors.

The system will be designed, made and tested by Rolls-Royce instrumentation and control teams based in Grenoble, France. The teams will supervise installation and commissioning by CNNC. The technology monitors continuously the reactor's power, fuctuations and distribution within the reactor.

The deal is a welcome piece of good news for Rolls-Royce, whose aerospace business has been battered by the Covid-19 crisis and its impact on the aviation industry. Rolls-Royce shares rose 6% to 230.6p at 10:55 BSt.

Stéphane Lessi, business director at Rolls-Royce civil nuclear France, said: “For more than 25 years, we have been collaborating with CNNC in China. We are delighted to have signed this new contract, which is further proof of the confidence that CNNC places in our I&C technologies and in our people”.

Rolls-Royce said more than 130 of its neutron flux monitoring systems were installed or chose for nuclear reactors worldwide including 42 systems in China.