An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team has concluded a 12-day mission to China for a full-scope review covering all facilities, activities and exposure situations. The mission was conducted at the request of the Government and hosted by the Ministry of Ecology & Environment (MEE) National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA).
The 24-member IRRS team comprised 20 senior regulatory experts from Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The mission team also included four IAEA staff members and an observer from Japan.
China is currently operating 59 units generating around 5% of its electricity with 32 units under construction and 21 planned. When the previous IRRS mission to China (a follow-up review) was carried out in 2016, there were 32 units in operation.
“Over the past decade, China has made impressive headway in establishing a capable and independent regulatory body and promoting a healthy nuclear safety culture. China has a strong, competent and trusted national regulator that works effectively to ensure the safety of the public and environment,” said IRRS team leader Mark Foy, former CEO and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
The team reviewed areas including: responsibilities and functions of the government and the regulatory body; the activities of the regulatory body including authorisation, inspection and enforcement processes; development and content of regulations and guides; emergency preparedness and response; radiation sources; research reactors; nuclear power plants; fuel cycle facilities; radioactive waste management facilities; transport of radioactive material; decommissioning; occupational exposure; control of medical exposure and public exposure; and interfaces with nuclear security.
Two policy issues discussed during the mission were the impact of the rapid development of AI on regulation and the shortage of human resources due to the surge in the number of operating reactor units in China. “The fast growth in China’s nuclear power programme will require the recruitment and training of a significant number of additional nuclear professionals in the regulatory field in the coming years. Its use of technology to support the effectiveness of its national regulator is an exemplar for all of us to learn from,” Foy noted.
The team conducted interviews and discussions with NNSA staff and its leadership. Team members also met senior representatives from the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) as well as the National Health Commission (NHC) and the China National Energy Authority (NEA). They observed regulatory oversight activities at: a NPP, a research reactor, a nuclear fuel cycle facility, a radiation sources facility, a radioactive waste management facility, a transport facility and a hospital.
Several good practices were identified, including:
- Unique advances in developing, adopting and exploiting the benefits of AI-based tools to significantly improve the efficiency of its decision-making, safety oversight and knowledge management.
- Arrangements for regular, high-level exchanges with all senior industry stakeholders on domestic and global nuclear safety developments, ensuring a common understanding on nuclear safety priorities and required improvements across China’s nuclear industry.
Recommendations and suggestions for further improvement included:
- Clarifying protection strategies in the case of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
- Providing a documented process for developing inspection plans for nuclear facilities.
- Establishing and implementing a comprehensive safety culture oversight programme.
- Enhancing processes to ensure that updates to department rules, guides, and standards are completed to appropriately align with the latest IAEA safety standards.
“China has demonstrated a commendable commitment to continuous safety improvement by inviting this comprehensive full-scope IRRS mission,” said Karine Herviou, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The team of senior regulatory experts recognised the Government’s unequivocal support to ensure a strong national safety regulator, including the provision of human and financial resources, while also proposing specific actions for further enhancements.”
Baotong Dong, MEE Vice Minister and NNSA Administrator, said the review team had positively acknowledged China’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory framework and practices and stressed that these would be further enhanced in future. “China has established a regulatory system that aligns with international standards while meeting national conditions,” he said. “The Government will further enhance its regulatory capabilities, accelerate the development of a modern nuclear safety regulatory system, and promote a virtuous cycle of high-level nuclear safety and high-quality development in the nuclear sector. China stands ready to contribute to strengthening global nuclear safety governance and elevating worldwide nuclear safety standards.”
The final mission report will be provided to the Government in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public. China will consider inviting an IRRS follow-up mission at a later stage.
