In many critical components of major equipment, human control still plays a central role. In nuclear power plants, for example, pumps and valves are essential parts that account for nearly a quarter of the total equipment investment. However, China is not yet fully self-reliant in manufacturing these components, which has allowed foreign companies to dominate the market and gain substantial profits. A recent report revealed that the Ling Ao Phase II nuclear power plant imported valves worth $70 million, representing less than 4% of its domestic purchases.
The reliance on imported key components in the nuclear power sector is just one example. According to Zhang Guobao, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, when he visited domestic nuclear power companies, he suggested using local control systems—but the response was simple: “Nobody dares to use them.†This reluctance highlights a broader issue across various industries.
Cai Weichi, vice chairman of the China Machinery Industry Federation, discussed the challenges of controlling key components and materials in major technical equipment fields. He noted that while China’s annual production of power generation equipment exceeds 100 million kilowatts, high-temperature, high-pressure pipes and plates used in supercritical and ultra-supercritical units are still largely imported. Although domestic production has increased significantly, the quality required for such applications remains out of reach for many local manufacturers.
Similarly, although China has developed rolling mills domestically, many electrical components and control systems are still imported. In the field of EHV and UHV transmission equipment, domestic companies have made progress, but users remain hesitant. As a result, many projects still rely on foreign products or partnerships with international firms.
Even in transformer manufacturing, while the core components are produced locally, users remain uncertain about internal parts like bushings. Some manufacturers claim they can produce them, but they lack confidence in their own capabilities.
In the machine tool industry, the lag in functional parts and numerical control systems has become a bottleneck, especially for high-end CNC machines. Cai highlighted that this issue is not unique to one sector but affects many areas of major equipment.
Zhang Guobao echoed these concerns, stating that although some products are now made domestically, they often lack independent design and core technology. While domestic equipment may be available, it still lags behind foreign counterparts in reliability, energy efficiency, and performance.
Examples of such gaps include large-scale pumped storage units, heavy-duty gas turbines, deep-water offshore oil engineering equipment, and large civilian aircraft—areas where China still lacks core technologies.
Despite these challenges, there is optimism. Cai emphasized that the path to self-reliance is gradual, not sudden. For instance, while China once had to import entire supercritical and ultra-supercritical units, it now imports only certain raw materials and components. This marks a significant step forward.
Transformers, once impossible to build domestically, are now being manufactured successfully, even if the market share remains small. Over time, this is expected to grow. The same applies to internal components like casings, which were once entirely imported but are now being addressed.
Cai also pointed out that different sectors face varying levels of challenge. Power generation equipment is relatively more advanced, while power transmission and transformation equipment lags behind. Nuclear power and large-scale ethylene plants face even greater difficulties.
Despite these obstacles, Cai remains confident in the future of China’s equipment industry. His goal is for the country to be able to support itself globally under normal conditions and avoid being caught off guard in times of crisis.
China is steadily moving toward this goal. For example, the 600,000-kilowatt thermal power unit's domestic control system was successfully tested in 2006 and has already received several orders. Although its market share is still small, it proves that alternatives to foreign products are possible.
Regarding forgings, although power plant components are mostly imported, Cai stressed that domestic enterprises are capable of producing them. However, they often choose to focus on easier, more profitable products instead.
Finally, Cai warned that if manufacturers continue to prioritize "easy" projects over challenging ones, it could lead to a shortage of technical expertise and trust from users. This could become a problem if production orders decrease in the future.
With the global market becoming more competitive, especially as foreign high-end equipment continues to flood the market, Cai urged the industry to remain vigilant. Even in times of growth, it's crucial to maintain a sense of urgency and prepare for potential challenges.
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