BEIJING -- China has made great strides in the technological research into the control rod drive mechanism, a key piece of equipment for nuclear power plants, according to a ministry statement issued Wednesday.

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) made the announcement in a brief statement, citing progress made in a government-funded research project carried out by state-owned China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN).

CGN launched the "Research of Control Rod Drive Mechanism for Mega-Kilowatt-Class Pressurized Water Reactor" project in 2011 as part of the country's efforts to break foreign monopolies on bottleneck technologies.

Scientists with the project have completed research into and production of China's indigenous control rod drive mechanism for generation II+ nuclear power plants, including all the performance tests and operation life tests, MST said.

The project team has also completed designs and production and are conducting related tests on the control rod drive mechanism for the generation III, 1,700-megawatt nuclear power plant, it added.

The ministry said some kinds of products, which are part of the research results, have been provided to more than 10 domestic reactors and will gradually replace imported alternatives.

China is expected to realize self-reliance in the nuclear power plant control rod drive mechanism through government-backed research projects in related areas, the ministry commented in the statement.