The China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) is China's first fast nuclear reactor, and is located outside Beijing at the China Institute of Atomic Energy. It aims to provide China with fast-reactor design, construction, and operational experience, and will be a key facility for testing and researching components and materials to be used in subsequent fast reactors. The reactor achieved first criticality on July 21, 2010 and started generating power a year later on July 21, 2011. In October 2012 Xinhua announced that the CEFR has passed official checks. The CEFR was brought to full power at 5.00pm on 15 December 2014 and operated at this level continuously for three full days.