Nuclear safety lab set up
4/6/2005 9:13
Shanghai Daily news
France and China have jointly established a laboratory in the city to
study nuclear power generation safety, officials said yesterday at a seminar on
nuclear energy for civilian use. The financial details were not disclosed,
however. The country plans to nearly triple its nuclear generating capacity
by 2020. "China considers France a very important partner to realize its
advancement of nuclear generation technology," said Zheng Mingguang, vice
president of Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design
Institute. Established in April, the Severe Accident Management Laboratory is
co-run by the institute and the French Atomic Energy Commission. Zheng said
laboratory researchers, including those from France, will concentrate on
preventing potential radioactive risks. They will also try to resolve ways to
safely remove residual heat - a by-product created during nuclear power
generation, which if not treated properly could lead to pollution of underground
water. Zheng said French researchers are expected to provide a computer
database that will allow the calculation of potential risks in nuclear power
generation. The nuclear generating system adopted by France is called the
Europe Pressurized Reactor - which, depending on its four backup systems, can
significantly improve the country's nuclear generating power safety level,
scientists said. There are no nuclear reactors in the city, but some
equipment and technologies needed to build them have been invented by local
scientists, insiders said. According to a central government plan, China
expects to almost triple its current nuclear power generation capacity. It hopes
nuclear power will account for 4 percent of total power output by 2020. It is
estimated the country needs 28 nuclear reactors to achieve the goal. The cost
could exceed US$40 billion. France and the United States are the most
competitive potential suppliers of nuclear reactors. By taking part in the
laboratory project, France may improve its prospects of winning future contracts
with China.
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