China unveils upgraded digital control system for nuclear reactors

The China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) on Thursday released an upgraded version of its digital control system for nuclear reactors, known as FirmSys, at the International Nuclear Energy Industry Innovation Expo held in Shenzhen City of south China's Guangdong Province.

FirmSys, China's first independently developed nuclear-grade digital control system, is now used by over two dozen nuclear power plants across the country to ensure safety throughout the controlling and monitoring operations.

The upgraded FirmSys has integrated new technologies including AI, digital twins of reactor parts, and virtual simulations, providing intelligent support for operators in fault detection, early warning, and decision making.

"The new-generation nuclear-safety-grade digital control system is like a super intelligent brain for a nuclear power plant, and it is 100 percent homegrown. Both its hardware and software, including chips, the operating system, embedded software, and communication software, are completely developed by us, realizing domestic manufacturing of such 'digital brains'," said Sun Yongbin, chairman of CGN's Digital Technology Company.

The 4th China Nuclear Energy High-Quality Development Conference and Shenzhen International Nuclear Energy Expo is taking place at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center from Wednesday to Friday, gathering experts and representatives from around the world to exchange insights on topics such as AI-driven nuclear power operation optimization, advanced nuclear energy technology research and development, and global nuclear energy cooperation.

China currently operates 58 nuclear reactors and is building 44 more, totaling 102 facilities. At this pace, it will surpass all other nations to become the world's top nuclear power operator by 2030, representing a combined potential generating capacity of approximately 113 gigawatts.

The country's nuclear power output reached 450 billion kWh in 2024, cutting 140 million tonnes of standard coal use and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 370 million tonnes, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA).

China unveils upgraded digital control system for nuclear reactors

Ali Abdollahi, chief commander of Iran's main military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, had met the country's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, presenting the leader with a report of the country's armed forces' readiness, the official news agency IRNA reported on Sunday.

During the meeting, Abdollahi said they are well-prepared to counter the "hostile actions" of the United States and Israel, the report said, without specifying the date of the session.

If the United States and Israel perpetrate any act of aggression against Iran, the Iranian armed forces will respond to them "swiftly, intensely, and powerfully," Abdollahi said.

Khamenei praised the country's "brave and powerful" armed forces and outlined new measures to continue the fight against the enemies.

Iran's Assembly of Experts in early March announced the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's new supreme leader. His appointment came after Ali Khamenei, his father and Iran's former supreme leader, was assassinated in a U.S.-Israeli attack in Tehran on Feb. 28 Also on Sunday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said that 'the Iranian nation will never bow down to the enemy, and if there is talk of dialogue or negotiation, it does not mean surrender or retreat," according to a statement published on his office's website.

Top military commander meets Iran's supreme leader, briefs on military readiness