Based on the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between P.R. China and the United States signed by the government of P.R. China and USA on Jan. 31, 1979, both countries signed the Protocol on Nuclear Safety Cooperation between National Committee of Science and Technology, P.R. China and US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington on Oct. 17, 1981. Later, they revised and renewed the Protocol respectively in 1986, 1993, 1998 and 2004 under China-US cooperation framework for science and technology.

With the opening of Sino-US Nuclear Safety Cooperation Forum in Beijing at the beginning of this year, nuclear safety cooperation between China and US has once again come under world spotlight. Li Ganjie, Vice Minister of State Environmental Protection Administration, also Minister of National Nuclear Safety Administration, received an exclusive interview of People's Daily reporter for overseas coverage.

Minister of National Nuclear Safety Administration Li Ganjie delivered a speech at the Sino-US Nuclear Safety Cooperation Forum (Photo Source: Deng Jia from China Environment News)

Nuclear power plants built by China and US in the next 10 years will make up half of the world's total

Reporter (R): China and the US are two nuclear powers in the world playing an important role in global nuclear safety affairs. They have crossed a time span of over 20 years from the signing of the Protocol on Nuclear Safety Cooperation to the revision and renewal of the Protocol. What's your comment on this?

Li Ganjie (Li): Cooperation between China and the US in nuclear power has continued to deepen over years, which serves the long-term interest that calls for complementary strength and mutual benefit.

It is expected that the newly built nuclear power plants in China and US will account for over half of the new plants in the world in the next 10 years. Through mutual support and sharing the experience and achievements in nuclear safety supervision, both sides will not only promote the successful construction and safe operation of AP1000 units in China, and facilitate independent development of nuclear power technology, but also make positive contributions to the maintenance and enhanced level of global nuclear safety, to the further development of world nuclear power, resolution of global energy issues and climate change. Thus, reinforced bilateral cooperation in nuclear safety will play a significant role in nuclear power safety for China and the US and the world as a whole.

R: Before this forum you met with Dr. Dale E. Klein, Chairman of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). How will his visit promote Sino-US nuclear cooperation?

Li: Dr. Dale E. Klein showed that NRC had scrutinized AP1000 over the past few years and eventually issued permit for the design of the units. The AP1000 units being built in China will be subject to the independent inspection by NNSA. NRC will provide prompt technical support and consulting services and share the review experience of nuclear safety.

The US is one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of nuclear capacity with many mature experiences in nuclear safety inspection, review, law enforcement and emergency response which we need to draw upon.

Introduce AP1000 nuclear technology to jointly build 4 units

R: What are the major achievements of Sino-US nuclear cooperation to date?

Li: Bilateral cooperation between China and the US is extensive including exchanging information on nuclear safety that both sides are interested in, exchanging nuclear experts, delegation and technicians for lecturing and site visit. China also sends officials to NRC for training.

According to the unified arrangement for the construction of nuclear power plants, the bid invitation for the third generation technology of the major project for independent national nuclear power technology started on Sep. 2, 2004 when the letter for inviting bid was issued. It finished on Feb. 28, 2005. Through two years of negotiation, US Westinghouse Electric won the tender. On Dec. 16, 2006, China and US formally signed a MOU on joint construction of PWR nuclear power plant in China and transfer of relevant technologies, identifying the introduction of US AP1000 nuclear technology and the construction of four nuclear units of AP1000 in Sanmen, Zhejiang Province and Haiyang, Shandong Province.

The Second China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in Washington in May 2007 during which both sides signed a MOU on Nuclear Safety Cooperation in AP1000 Nuclear Reactor. The revised protocol on nuclear safety cooperation was signed on Jan. 7, 2008 to enhance bilateral nuclear cooperation for the introduction of AP1000 reactor.

As agreed, both sides will develop concrete and diversified cooperation in nuclear safety review and inspection for the location, design, manufacturing, construction, debugging and operation of AP1000 units focusing on introduction of AP1000 technology and construction of the major project. NRC will provide comprehensive support for nuclear safety laws, regulations, standards and specifications concerning AP1000, use of technical documents and safety review software as well as construction and supervision of important nuclear safety installations. NRC will also provide consulting service on nuclear safety review and personnel training for NNSA and its affiliates.

R: What are the advantages and feature of AP1000 technology?

Li: AP1000 technology is the third generation nuclear power technology and one of the commercialized nuclear power technologies in global market boasting sound reliability and technical advancement. It has a great potential in the market.

AP1000 stands out in its design concept where the safety system features natural dynamism. For example, by making use of inherent physical traits like natural cycle, components in the safety system have been dramatically reduced while its reliability improves. What has been cut includes 50% of valves, 35% of pumps, 80% of pipelines, 45% of quakeproof structures and 70% of cables. This helps to shorten the construction period, save investment cost and make the investment more economically viable and the price more competitive.

Additionally, all-digital control system and dual safety shell were employed in the design. Much headway has been made in its safety and probability of core melting in the reactor as compared to the second generation PWR nuclear power plants now in use. Reliability of the units has improved by a large margin.

The two sites have access to power, water, gas and transportation with level ground and will commence construction in next March

R: Who is the leading organization for Sino-US nuclear power project? How does the project progress?

Li: China National Nuclear Power Technology Corporation was established on May 22, 2007. As a major platform for technology introduction, engineering construction and independent development and related R&D of the third generation nuclear power technology, the National Nuclear Power Technology Corporation founded a project management department jointly with foreign partner, Sanmen Nuclear Power Co., Ltd and Shandong Nuclear Power Co. Ltd. under the precondition that no liability of the foreign party is transferred. This management department is responsible for project design, equipment purchase and construction of nuclear island and the interface under the independently developed projects.

On July 24, 2007, China National Nuclear Power Technology Co. and US Westinghouse signed a purchase contract for AP1000 technology transfer and nuclear island equipment. The two projects in Sanmen, Zhejiang and Haiyang, Shandong are now under construction.

Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant is located at Jiantiao Town, Sanmen County, Taizhou City of Zhejiang, which is at Maotoushan peninsula along East China Sea. Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant is based at the former Leng's Village and Dong's Village, Liugezhuang Town, Haiyang City which is affiliated to Yantai, Shandong Province. It is on the east of a headland. Now supply of water, electricity and telecommunications and road transport at the two locations have been realized and the ground is leveled. All early efforts are under way smoothly. As scheduled, placement of concrete on the No. 1 unit of Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant will start in March 2009 and the plant will be put into operation by the end of 2013.

The existing 11 nuclear power plants have been running safely

R: How is the safety of China's nuclear power plants?

Li: The nuclear power plants in use or to be built all employ mature design applied after 1980s in the world.

Under strict supervision of NNSA, the11 nuclear units including Zhejiang Qinshan Nuclear Power Base, Guangdong Dayawan/Ling'ao Nuclear Power Plant and Jiangsu Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant have been running in a safe and normal manner. No radioactive accident jeopardizing public or environmental security has ever happened.

Monitoring indicators of the nuclear power plants throughout the year show that the three safety barriers stay integral. Annual discharge of radioactive waste gas and liquid is far below national standard and the generation of radioactive solid wastes is also lower than the designed standard. The long-term monitoring data from nearby monitoring stations indicate that no change has occurred to the environmental radioactivity level around nuclear power plants as compared with the baseline data before operation. Neither has the number of land and marine species changed within the region.

Nuclear power is the strategic option for adjusting energy structure and pollution reduction

R: What implication will nuclear power has on pollution reduction and environmental protection in China?

Li: Energy shortage is serious in China. Thermal power accounts for a major part of power supply. Though desulphurization and other environmental measures have been adopted, emissions of SO₂ and NOx remain high. Add to that limited hydraulic resources for development and high cost of renewable energy and other new energy sources to expand their scale, the environmental situation is very stern.

Although China is not obliged to targeted emission reduction as a developing country in the world, it faces mounting international pressures along with the sustained fast economic growth and increasing GHG emissions. So we must work out appropriate countermeasures. 

Under the circumstances, the development of nuclear power holds strategic significance for adjusting energy structure, reducing environmental pollution and balancing the development of economy and ecological environment. For example, comparing with a coal-fired power plant of similar size, a 1 GW nuclear unit can save 3 million tons of raw coal every year, reducing 6.75 million tons of CO₂, 25,000 tons of SO₂, 15,000 tons of NOx, 1,600 tons of dust and 300,000 tons of coal ash.

Strengthening inspection and supervision to ensure absolute safety of nuclear power

R: As the safety of nuclear power counts for much of the environment and people's life and health, what measures have been taken to ensure the safe construction of nuclear power plants?

Li: All the nuclear power plants need the approval of the State Council. The construction organization needs to obtain permit from related government departments including letter of opinion for the location and inspection of plants by SEPA and NNSA, reply to EIA report during the location stage and other documents before the project is approved by the State Council.

The stage-to-stage permit system (approval of location, permit for construction, first filling of materials, transport and decommissioning) and nuclear safety laws and standards governing whole-process on-site inspection and environmental monitoring carried out by the NNSA has reached international standard. 

Before approving the location of nuclear power plants and all permits, SEPA (NNSA) will have a strict inspection by a professional team. They will check against the law on environmental impact assessment, safety rules and its guidelines on the location of nuclear power plants as well as related national standards. The nuclear safety and environmental experts committee will deliberate and give advice on it.

SEPA (NNSA) has always valued information disclosure and listened to public opinion. According to the provisional measures on public participation in environmental impact assessment, the public can get involved in the procedure in two stages. In the first stage, the construction organization will organize the event and in the second one the competent environmental protection agency, after accepting the application, will be the host. In both cases, the public can participate in environmental impact assessment and voice their opinions freely.