Page 5 - AsiaElec Week 11 2023

AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec

the world, with much made of the fact that it is with a long refuelling cycle, which is suitable
the highest single annual addition to the nation’s for bearing the base load of the power grid and
NPP ranks in more than 10 years. necessary power load tracking, and can replace
As Luo said, this is because “China’s fossil energy as the base load power source on a
nuclear power development has now taken large scale,” Lu says.
a leading position in the world. From tech- Wearing his ‘other’ hats as assistant to the
nology research and development, design head of the CNNC and even head of China’s
and construction, equipment manufactur- National Nuclear Power Company, Lu went
ing, operation management to technical on to focus the spotlight on the World Asso-
services, it has the ability and conditions ciation of Nuclear Operators (WANO), even
to ‘go global’ across the entire industry ranking of CNNC as number one in the world
chain.” when it comes to operating more NPPs than
Of huge importance to most potential any other body on the planet for the last three
buyers is safety, though, and with neigh- years.
bouring Japan drawing criticism and coming He stopped short of pushing for increased
under the spotlight after having announced use of Chinese nuclear technology overseas,
plans to release nuclear-contaminated water though, merely hinting at Beijing making
into the north Pacific, China is making the efforts to increase use of nuclear technology
most of its own impressive nuclear safety both on the domestic and overseas fronts.
record.
Doubts do exist around the region as Belt Road Initiative promotion
to the accuracy and reliability of Chinese The full on promotion of nuclear tech and
nuclear safety statistics, and with good rea- know-how expanding beyond China’s borders
son in a nation known for manipulation of Lu left to his senior Luo Qi, who also made
official releases and limitations on press the surprising claim that China first needs to
freedom. focus on its nuclear power technology “going
An automated shutdown following global,” by way of the so-called Belt and Road
damage to fuel rods at the Taishan NPP in nations; 147 nations in less developed parts
2021 aside, China has to date recorded no of the world that have signed an agreement to
incidents above Level 2 on the Interna- join the Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative
tional Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (BRI).
(INES). Few at present have any intentions of
Records like these see Lu Tiezhong, adopting nuclear power in the years to
an influential member of China’s Peo- come, primarily for financial reasons.
ple’s Political Consultative Conference That said, with South Korea upping the
(CPPCC), highlighting a safety record ante in East Asian nuclear export tech cir-
second to none in the ranks of nations cles in recent months, it would be no real
using nuclear power. surprise to see Beijing give the nod to the
“As a safe and efficient energy source, state-owned CNNC to initiate a concerted
nuclear power operates stably and reliably nuclear push in the years ahead.™

Week 11 15 •March•2023 www. NEWSBASE .com P5