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Where does China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) source its components?
China. Supply chain mapped to 39 inputs across 6 countries.
Federal screeningFlagged
Yes. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is named on the DOD Section 1260H list -- a federal restricted-party designation that makes it a foreign entity of concern for IRA clean-energy tax credit purposes. Is China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) a Foreign Entity of Concern?
Upstream sourcing exposure
High83% weighted
1 federally designated - 29 in covered nations - 7 elevated, of 39 nodes.
Where inputs are mined and refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company -- see the federal list screening above.
Refining chokepoint
4 of 5 processing/refining steps in covered nations
Producer1
Component14
Processing / Refining5
Raw Material10
Mine / Extraction9
designated covered nation elevated no known factor not assessed
Loading chain view...
Sourcing Concentration by Country
Covered NationAllied NationOther
Sourcing risk across the graph
Where each input is mined or refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company.
1
Designated (3%)
28
Covered nation (72%)
7
Elevated (18%)
3
No known factor (8%)
Legend
Node Types
Producer
Supplier
Component
Processing / Refining
Raw Material
Mine / Extraction
Logistics
Sourcing risk
Federally designated - named on a restricted-party list
Covered nation - sited in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea
Elevated - documented concentration risk, no federal listing
No known risk factor - not a compliance clearance
Not assessed - no sourcing judgement was made
Relationships
Transformation - manufactures / assembles
Refining - midstream processing (FEOC chokepoint)
Supply handoff - supplies / sources from
Arrows point in the direction material flows (input to product).
Every mapped input in the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) supply chain
39 nodes, grouped by supply-chain tier. Sourcing risk describes where an input is mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
Producer (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)Beijing HQ; vertically integrated across the nuclear fuel cycle | China | Federally designated | Named on CMICas “CHINA NATIONAL NUCLEAR CORPORATION”. Chinese state-owned enterprise; monopoly over China's front-end nuclear fuel cycle (mining, conversion, enrichment, fabrication). China entity of concern (FEOC). |
Component (14)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Fuel Assembly (CF3 / VVER)CNNC fuel fabrication, Yibin (Sichuan) & Baotou (Inner Mongolia) | China | Covered nation | CF3 PWR fuel assemblies domestically developed; VVER fuel at Yibin from TVEL tech. Bundle of fuel rods + skeleton. |
| Reactor Pressure VesselCNNC / China First Heavy Industries forging | China | Covered nation | Large low-alloy steel forged vessel housing the core; SA-508 Gr.3 class steel. |
| Steam GeneratorCNNC / Dongfang Electric | China | Covered nation | Heat exchanger with thousands of Inconel 690 tubes; primary/secondary boundary. |
| Control Rod AssemblyCNNC | China | Covered nation | Neutron absorber rods (B4C and/or AgInCd, sometimes hafnium) in stainless steel cladding. |
| Reactor Internals & Coolant PipingCNNC | China | Covered nation | Austenitic stainless steel core barrel, guide tubes, primary loop piping. |
| Enriched Uranium (UF6, ~3-5% U-235)CNNC enrichment plants, Lanzhou & Hanzhong (Shaanxi) | China | Covered nation | Gas-centrifuge enrichment; CNNC is sole enrichment provider in China, self-sufficiency policy. |
| UO2 Fuel PelletCNNC fabrication, Yibin / Baotou | China | Covered nation | Sintered uranium dioxide ceramic pellets stacked inside cladding tubes. |
| Zirconium Alloy Cladding TubeCNNC (N36 / Zr-4 tubes) | China | Covered nation | Fuel rod cladding; low neutron absorption, corrosion resistant. Made from nuclear-grade Zr sponge. |
| Grid Spacer / Structural SkeletonCNNC | China | Covered nation | Inconel 718 and Zircaloy grid spacers, top/bottom nozzles, guide tubes holding the rod bundle. |
| Uranium Conversion (U3O8 -> UF6)CNNC conversion plant, Lanzhou / Hengyang | China | Covered nation | Yellowcake refined and converted to uranium hexafluoride ('hex') feedstock for enrichment. |
| Inconel 690 SG Tubing (Ni-30Cr-9Fe)VIM+VAR melted; SG tube mills | China | Covered nation | PWR steam generator tube standard; resists primary water stress corrosion cracking. |
| Inconel 718 (grid spacers / springs)Special steel forges | China | Covered nation | Ni-Cr-Fe superalloy for fuel assembly grid spacers and springs. |
| SA-508 Gr.3 Low-Alloy Steel ForgingChina First Heavy Industries (CFHI), Dalian | China | Covered nation | RPV forging steel; Ni-Cr-Mo low-alloy, radiation-embrittlement resistant. |
| Austenitic Stainless Steel (304/316)Chinese special steel mills | China | Covered nation | Reactor internals, control rod cladding, guide tubes. |
Processing and refining (5)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear-Grade Zirconium SpongeCNNC Jinghuan (China Atomic Energy Industry), Shaanxi | China | Covered nation | Kroll process reduction of ZrCl4; only Chinese firm covering full Zr chain incl. Zr/Hf separation. China now exports Zr sponge. |
| Zirconium Tetrachloride (ZrCl4) + Zr/Hf SeparationCNNC Jinghuan, China | China | Covered nation | Hafnium stripped to <100 ppm (from ~3.6% in ore) — the critical nuclear-grade refining chokepoint. China-refined. |
| Refined Nickel / FerronickelChinese-operated RKEF/HPAL smelters, Sulawesi (Morowali/Weda Bay) | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Chinese firms (Tsingshan, Delong) control ~75% of Indonesia's smelting; nickel for Inconel/stainless. China-controlled refining. |
| Ferrochrome / ChromiumChinese ferroalloy smelters | China | Covered nation | Chromium for Inconel 690 (30% Cr) and stainless steel; China is largest ferrochrome producer/refiner. |
| Molybdenum (ferromolybdenum)Chinese roasters/smelters | China | Covered nation | Mo alloying element for SA-508 and superalloys; China leading molybdenum producer. |
Raw material (10)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium Concentrate (Yellowcake, U3O8)Milled at mine sites; imported to China | Multiple | Elevated sourcing risk | >70% of China's uranium is imported; CNNC controls foreign mines. Feedstock refined/converted in China. |
| Zircon Sand (ZrSiO4)Heavy mineral sands | Australia | Elevated sourcing risk | Feedstock ore for zirconium; mined mostly outside China but refined to nuclear grade in China. |
| Magnesium Metal (Kroll reductant)Shaanxi / Shanxi | China | Covered nation | China dominates ~85%+ of global magnesium production; reductant for Zr sponge Kroll process. |
| Nickel Laterite OreSulawesi / Halmahera | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Indonesia ~60% of global nickel mine output; ore export ban forces China-controlled domestic refining. |
| Chromite OreBushveld Complex | South Africa | Elevated sourcing risk | South Africa dominant chromite source; largely smelted/refined in China. |
| Boron Carbide (B4C) AbsorberChinese B4C producers | China | Covered nation | Primary neutron absorber pellets in PWR/BWR control rods; China major B4C producer. |
| Silver-Indium-Cadmium (AgInCd) AlloyChinese alloy producers | China | Covered nation | PWR control rod absorber; China dominant refiner of indium and cadmium byproducts. |
| Hafnium Metal (control-rod absorber)Byproduct of Zr/Hf separation, CNNC Jinghuan | China | Covered nation | Excellent neutron absorber; recovered as byproduct of nuclear-grade zirconium refining in China. |
| Hydrofluoric Acid / Fluorine (for UF6)Chinese fluorochemical plants | China | Covered nation | Fluorine source for conversion of uranium oxide to UF6 hex. |
| Fluorspar (CaF2)Inner Mongolia / Zhejiang | China | Covered nation | Feedstock for HF/fluorine; China leading fluorspar producer. |
Mine and extraction (9)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rossing Uranium MineRossing, Erongo Region, Namibia | Namibia | Elevated sourcing risk | CNNC (China National Uranium Corp) acquired Rio Tinto's 68.62% stake in 2019. Output exported to China. |
| Kazakhstan Uranium (ISR JVs)Semizbai-U / Kharasan JVs (Kazatomprom-CGNPC/CNNC) | Kazakhstan | Elevated sourcing risk | World's largest uranium producer; Chinese SOEs hold JV stakes, uranium shipped to China. |
| Domestic Uranium MinesInner Mongolia (Erdos ISR), Xinjiang, Jiangxi | China | Covered nation | CNNC domestic ISR and hard-rock uranium; supplements imports for self-sufficiency. |
| Mineral Sands Mines (Zircon)Western Australia / South Africa / Senegal | Australia | No known risk factor | ~75% of global zircon reserves in Australia; also South Africa, Senegal. Allied-mined, China-refined. |
| Nickel Laterite MinesSulawesi, Halmahera (Weda Bay) | Indonesia | No known risk factor | Indonesian-mined; downstream refining captured by Chinese-invested smelters. |
| Chromite MinesBushveld Igneous Complex | South Africa | No known risk factor | Allied-mined chromite; ferrochrome conversion increasingly China-based. |
| Molybdenum MineHenan / Shaanxi (Luanchuan) | China | Covered nation | China is the largest molybdenum miner; domestic ore and refining. |
| Borate MineLiaoning / Qinghai | China | Covered nation | Boron ore feedstock for boron carbide; China significant borate producer. |
| Fluorspar MineInner Mongolia | China | Covered nation | China dominant global fluorspar source. |
Material flow (46 relationships)
- China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) manufactures Nuclear Fuel Assembly (CF3 / VVER) (Nuclear fuel assembly)
- China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) manufactures Reactor Pressure Vessel (Reactor pressure vessel)
- China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) manufactures Steam Generator (Steam generator)
- China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) manufactures Control Rod Assembly (Control rod assembly)
- China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) manufactures Reactor Internals & Coolant Piping (Reactor internals & piping)
- Nuclear Fuel Assembly (CF3 / VVER) assembles UO2 Fuel Pellet (UO2 fuel pellets)
- Nuclear Fuel Assembly (CF3 / VVER) assembles Zirconium Alloy Cladding Tube (Zirconium cladding tubes)
- Nuclear Fuel Assembly (CF3 / VVER) assembles Grid Spacer / Structural Skeleton (Grid spacer / skeleton)
- UO2 Fuel Pellet supplies Enriched Uranium (UF6, ~3-5% U-235) (Enriched uranium (UF6))
- Enriched Uranium (UF6, ~3-5% U-235) supplies Uranium Conversion (U3O8 -> UF6) (UF6 feedstock)
- Uranium Conversion (U3O8 -> UF6) refines Uranium Concentrate (Yellowcake, U3O8) (U3O8 -> UF6)
- Uranium Conversion (U3O8 -> UF6) supplies Hydrofluoric Acid / Fluorine (for UF6) (Fluorine / HF for hex)
- Hydrofluoric Acid / Fluorine (for UF6) refines Fluorspar (CaF2) (Fluorspar -> HF)
- Fluorspar (CaF2) sources from Fluorspar Mine (Fluorspar ore)
- Uranium Concentrate (Yellowcake, U3O8) sources from Rossing Uranium Mine (Uranium ore (Rossing))
- Uranium Concentrate (Yellowcake, U3O8) sources from Kazakhstan Uranium (ISR JVs) (Uranium ore (Kazakhstan))
- Uranium Concentrate (Yellowcake, U3O8) sources from Domestic Uranium Mines (Uranium ore (domestic))
- Zirconium Alloy Cladding Tube supplies Nuclear-Grade Zirconium Sponge (Nuclear-grade Zr sponge)
- Grid Spacer / Structural Skeleton supplies Nuclear-Grade Zirconium Sponge (Zircaloy grid material)
- Grid Spacer / Structural Skeleton supplies Inconel 718 (grid spacers / springs) (Inconel 718 spacers/springs)
- Nuclear-Grade Zirconium Sponge refines Zirconium Tetrachloride (ZrCl4) + Zr/Hf Separation (ZrCl4 -> Zr sponge (Kroll))
- Nuclear-Grade Zirconium Sponge supplies Magnesium Metal (Kroll reductant) (Magnesium reductant)
- Zirconium Tetrachloride (ZrCl4) + Zr/Hf Separation refines Zircon Sand (ZrSiO4) (Zircon -> ZrCl4 + Zr/Hf split)
- Zircon Sand (ZrSiO4) sources from Mineral Sands Mines (Zircon) (Zircon sand ore)
- Hafnium Metal (control-rod absorber) refines Zirconium Tetrachloride (ZrCl4) + Zr/Hf Separation (Hf byproduct of Zr/Hf separation)
- Steam Generator assembles Inconel 690 SG Tubing (Ni-30Cr-9Fe) (Inconel 690 tubing)
- Reactor Pressure Vessel assembles SA-508 Gr.3 Low-Alloy Steel Forging (SA-508 forging)
- Reactor Internals & Coolant Piping assembles Austenitic Stainless Steel (304/316) (Austenitic stainless steel)
- Control Rod Assembly assembles Boron Carbide (B4C) Absorber (Boron carbide absorber)
- Control Rod Assembly assembles Silver-Indium-Cadmium (AgInCd) Alloy (AgInCd absorber)
- Control Rod Assembly assembles Hafnium Metal (control-rod absorber) (Hafnium absorber)
- Control Rod Assembly assembles Austenitic Stainless Steel (304/316) (Stainless cladding)
- Inconel 690 SG Tubing (Ni-30Cr-9Fe) supplies Refined Nickel / Ferronickel (Nickel)
- Inconel 690 SG Tubing (Ni-30Cr-9Fe) supplies Ferrochrome / Chromium (Chromium)
- Inconel 718 (grid spacers / springs) supplies Refined Nickel / Ferronickel (Nickel)
- Inconel 718 (grid spacers / springs) supplies Ferrochrome / Chromium (Chromium)
- Austenitic Stainless Steel (304/316) supplies Refined Nickel / Ferronickel (Nickel)
- Austenitic Stainless Steel (304/316) supplies Ferrochrome / Chromium (Chromium)
- SA-508 Gr.3 Low-Alloy Steel Forging supplies Refined Nickel / Ferronickel (Nickel)
- SA-508 Gr.3 Low-Alloy Steel Forging supplies Molybdenum (ferromolybdenum) (Molybdenum)
- Refined Nickel / Ferronickel refines Nickel Laterite Ore (Ni ore -> refined nickel)
- Nickel Laterite Ore sources from Nickel Laterite Mines (Nickel laterite ore)
- Ferrochrome / Chromium refines Chromite Ore (Chromite -> ferrochrome)
- Chromite Ore sources from Chromite Mines (Chromite ore)
- Molybdenum (ferromolybdenum) refines Molybdenum Mine (Mo ore -> ferromolybdenum)
- Boron Carbide (B4C) Absorber sources from Borate Mine (Borate ore)
Sources and methodology
Research-based supply-chain map compiled from public sources - not an audited bill of materials. Tiers reflect the standard industry structure for this product. Sourcing risk on a node describes where that input is typically mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), and it is not a screening result for the node itself unless a federal listing is cited against it. Verify against primary documentation before making a compliance determination.
Primary sources (1) - government, filings, standards bodies
Secondary sources (14) - trade press, analysts, reference works
- en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_National_Nuclear_Corporation
- en.cnnc.com.cn en.cnnc.com.cn/ourbusiness.html
- world-nuclear.org world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/china-nuclear-fuel-cycle
- belfercenter.org belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/pantheon_files/files/publication/chinasuraniumenrichmenntcapacity.pdf
- world-nuclear-news.org world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/China-enters-zirconium-sponge-export-market
- theoregongroup.com theoregongroup.com/commodities/uranium/namibias-strategic-ascent-in-the-global-uranium-supply-chain/
- en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_mining_by_country
- fushunspecialsteel.com fushunspecialsteel.com/metal-materials-for-pressurized-water-reactor-pwr-nuclear-power-plants-complete-technical-guide/
- alloy-materials.com alloy-materials.com/sa508/
- nbr.org nbr.org/publication/chinas-influence-in-indonesias-nickel-sector-and-implications-for-the-united-states/
- mining.transparency.org.au mining.transparency.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TIA_Indonesia_Case_Study_202510_ENG.pdf
- world-nuclear.org world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/conversion-enrichment-and-fabrication/conversion-and-deconversion
- world-nuclear.org world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/conversion-enrichment-and-fabrication/fuel-fabrication
- en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_rod
Common questions
- Where does China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) source the inputs in this product?
- This map traces 39 inputs across 6 countries, including 14 mines and refiners. It is compiled from public sources and is not an audited bill of materials.
- How much of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) supply chain sits in a covered nation?
- 29 of 39 mapped inputs are sited in a covered nation (China, Russia, Iran or North Korea) or named on a federal restricted-party list. A further 7 carry elevated sourcing risk without either basis.
- Is China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) itself a Foreign Entity of Concern?
- Yes. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is named on the DOD Section 1260H list -- a federal restricted-party designation that makes it a foreign entity of concern for IRA clean-energy tax credit purposes. Sourcing risk in this map describes where inputs are mined and refined and is a separate question from the company's own federal screening.