Embracing Safe Chinese Nuclear Technology

Transitioning from importing most of its facilities from abroad to now exporting technologies overseas， Chinas nuclear power industry， which was initiated in the early 1970s， has achieved remarkable growth.

Moreover， the export of Chinas domestic nuclear technology also exemplifies the countrys confidence in its nuclear power capabilities.

A set of guidelines on nuclear safety and radioactive contamination prevention published by the Chinese Government in 2012 proposed eliminating the possibility of massive leakages of radioactive substances for nuclear power units built during and after the 13th Five-Year Plan （2016-20） period. Such ambitious goals were regarded as revolutionary to the concept of nuclear power safety at that time， and are just as important today.

After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011， the international community has achieved a more comprehensive and profound understanding of nuclear safety. China has also taken measures to improve the safety of its facilities since then. In September 2013， the National Nuclear Safety Administration （NNSA） carried out a thorough inspection of nuclear power plants in operation across China and found that all of them met relevant safety standards.

Chinas nuclear power plants have also registered sound performance. The NNSA revealed recently that Chinas operational nuclear power units have kept excellent safety records， with no major safety incidents having occurred. The performance of Chinas nuclear power is also ranked highly by the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

After years of efforts， Chinas nuclear power facilities are increasingly being produced domestically. Notably， a pilot nuclear power project using Hualong One technology， a domestically developed third-generation reactor design， started construction in Fuqing， Fujian Province， in May 2015. It marks a new era in Chinas nuclear power development， as over 85 percent of its parts and components are domestically developed and produced， and the technology has gained 743 patents as well as 104 software copyrights.

The Hualong One technology has already been transferred to Pakistan， making China the fourth country in the world capable of independently exporting third-generation nuclear technology. This remarkable accomplishment also shows how seriously China takes its commitments to transitioning into an advanced manufacturing power， and providing highquality technological advancements to improve safety in this field.