China Suspends Approval of New Nuclear Power Plants

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Due to the increasing concerns about nuclear safety following recent events in Japan, the State Council of China decided to suspend approval of new nuclear power plants on March 16, 2011.

The decision was made after reviewing reports of leaking radiation at Japan's Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant during an executive meeting of the State Council, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday in Beijing.

The meeting highlighted that all nuclear power units operating in China were operating safely, and that environmental monitoring for radiation showed no abnormalities. The radiation leaking from the Daiichi plant would not cause any impact to public health in China.

However, the announcement strengthens the importance of nuclear safety. The State Council has decided to do the following:

1. to organize a total safety inspection for the nuclear facilities in China
2. to strengthen safety management at operating nuclear facilities
3. to conduct a review on the nuclear power projects currently under construction
4. to suspend approval of new nuclear power plants, including preliminary approval on projects to kick off pre-stage preparations, until safety standards can be reviewed and revised in the wake of the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan

China has 12 nuclear power units in operation and another 23 units under construction at present. Most of these are the improved second- and third-generation of nuclear power units.

Insiders believe that the decision of the State Council will have only a slight impact on the construction of nuclear power projects in China. Some inland nuclear power projects, such as the Xianning project in Hubei, Pengze project in Jiangxi, and the Taohuajiang project in Hunan, which were originally scheduled to begin official construction later this year, might be postponed.

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