(Yicai Global) Dec. 29 -- The demonstration fast reactor project undertaken by China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) in Xiapu county, Fujian province in China's southeastern coastal region started civil engineering work officially today, the nuclear giant announced on its website.

This is the first demonstration project of a fast reactor nuclear power in China, and it is slated to start running in 2023 with a capacity of 600,000 kilowatts.

Xiapu Demonstration Fast Reactor Project Company has received funding from China National Nuclear Power Co. (CNNP), a subsidiary of CNNC, Fujian Funeng Co., Huangneng Nuclear Power Development Co., China Yangtze Power Co. and Ningde City State-Owned Properties Investment & Management Co. on a 55 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent and 5 percent proportion of capital contribution, respectively, public information shows.

Fast reactors are 'breeder' reactors that derive more neutrons from their primary fuel than thermal reactors, making nuclear power much more sustainable. Their waste also decays into an inert, harmless state in centuries, rather than hundreds of thousands of years, and they can automatically shut down if an accident occurs.