Writer: Winton Dong dht620@sina.com
ACCORDING to a report approved by the State Council at the end of March this year, China’s installed nuclear power capacity more than doubled to 27.17 gigawatts in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) and is expected to double again to 58 gigawatts by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan in 2020.
Such figures mean that nuclear energy will witness robust growth in China in the coming years to meet the country’s commitments to reducing reliance on coal and achieving its climate change targets.
At present, most of China’s nuclear power plants are located in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong and other coastal provinces. During previous years, coastal areas have been the main locomotive driving the country’s economic growth. Quick economic development is based on the consumption of more energy, making the construction of nuclear power plants a necessity in these relatively developed areas. Meanwhile, to generate electricity, nuclear power plants require large amounts of water to cool the reactors and the proximity to the ocean or sea satisfies this need. Moreover, the equipment and materials needed to supply nuclear power plants are so heavy and cumbersome that sea transportation is by far the best option compared with land or other forms of transportation. These three factors contribute to the decision that coastal areas are the best locations for nuclear power plants.
However, with the quick development of China’s central and inner areas in recent years, the country is also planning to build nuclear power plants in inner provinces. The construction of new plants in inner areas will also greatly cut electricity prices and reduce power loss during the course of long-distance transmission.
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 in the former Soviet Union has so far caused more than 300,000 radioactive deaths. The Fukushima nuclear explosion in 2011 also brought catastrophe and great pain to Japan. However, for the sake of environmental protection (cutting excessive coal consumption) and because of the limits of solar energy and wind power, all economies — including China — who pursue higher economic growth must resort to the development of nuclear power in the future as an alternative. Considering these circumstances, every Chinese citizen has the right to know what concrete measures the Chinese Government will take to develop nuclear power in a totally safe and highly efficient way.
In my opinion, while building new plants, the Central Government should pay more attention to consolidating and reorganizing existing nuclear power plants to increase their working efficiency. It is reported that the merger of two Shanghai-listed companies — namely China National Nuclear Corp., a reactor design and technology company, and China Nuclear Engineering Corp. Group, a company that mainly engages in construction — is now under way. Such a streamlining and consolidation will not only boost their internal efficiency, but also increase their share in international markets.
Geological conditions — such as the structure of rock and anti-seismic level — are of vital importance in designating the locations of new power plants. For example, the location of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is within the Pacific Volcano and Earthquake Belt, thus making it vulnerable to contingencies. Besides earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, tides, possible terror attacks and even emergent evacuations are also important factors we have to take into consideration when selecting possible locations for nuclear plants.
Aging is another problem that influences the safety of nuclear plants all over the world. Since the construction costs of nuclear plants are very high, they will be used and exploited to the utmost. At present, there are more than 400 active nuclear reactors globally. Of which, 162 are more than 30 years old and 22 are even more than 40 years old. The Fukushima plant, built in 1968, had been operating for 43 years until its explosion and closure in 2011. Generally speaking, the average life span of a nuclear plant is 30 years.
The disposal of hazardous nuclear waste also poses a great challenge to the development of nuclear plants. No country in the world has so far found an absolutely safe solution to the disposal of radioactive waste. According to insiders, it is common practice to at first solidify and seal the radioactive dregs at nuclear plants for five to 10 years. This waste will then be transported to designated areas for further processing. To minimize or totally get rid of the bad influence of radiation, China is now considering building repositories for hazardous nuclear waste thousands of meters deep in the earth.
China now has 161 atmospheric radiation monitoring stations nationwide. In a bid to strengthen nuclear power security, the number will be greatly increased to 500 by 2020 to create a comprehensive network covering all major cities in China.
Human life is the most precious thing there is. Despite the fact that China has set very strict standards for nuclear power plant construction, production and processing, the safety of nuclear power has created perhaps the most emotional battle yet fought over energy in the country. As the largest energy consumer in the world and having witnessed rapid growth of nuclear energy in recent years, it is never too much to emphasize the importance of nuclear safety in China.
(The author is the editor-in-chief of the Shenzhen Daily.)