process and have been decommissioned, bringing the total number of nuclear power
plants in Japan to 36.
As shown in Table 11.2, the accident rate in Japan was the second lowest globally
(after the United States), but the level 3.11 Fukushima accident has shattered the
myth of nuclear safety in Japan.
11.6 Designing a Nuclear Security System for Japan, China,
and Korea
11.6.1 Issues Related to Nuclear Power Plants in Japan,
China, and Korea
As shown in Fig. 11.5, the scale of nuclear power problems is no longer that of a
single country but extends to regional and global levels. Nuclear power plants in
China (48 operational and 10 under construction) are concentrated in the eight
coastal provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Liaoning, Guangxi,
Fujian, and Hainan. The coastal areas of Japan, South Korea, and China have the
highest density of nuclear power plants (number of reactors per unit area) in the
world. Because of the close geographical and economic relationship among Japan,
China, and South Korea, nuclear issues and accidents in one country can have a
significant impact on the others. There is an urgent need to establish a cooperative
framework for nuclear safety measures and assessments that accounts for trends in
nuclear policy and the increase in risk of future accidents.
For example, the following points pose serious challenges for the Chinese nuclear
community.
Shortage of human resources, especially highly skilled engineers According to
the nuclear power plant plan, about ten one million kilowatt nuclear reactors will be
built simultaneously during the peak period of nuclear power plant construction in
China. It is of grave concern to the international community that there is insufficient
planning, management, and operational capacity to support this rapid expansion.
There is a shortage of human resources, especially high-level engineers, as well as a
shortage of manufacturing capacity, construction and installation capacity, and
research and development and design capacity for nuclear power generation facilities. There is also a lack of regulatory manpower.
Hidden risks in the scarcity of nuclear fuel resources There is no doubt that
China needs nuclear power. However, from a long-term perspective, it may only be
able to supply nuclear fuel for approximately 50 years. The rate of uranium utilization in China is extremely low because short- and medium-term nuclear power plants
are mainly of the PWR type. Such massive resource consumption and low utilization
rates are likely to constrain sustainable development of the nuclear industry due to
shortages in nuclear fuel supply.
11 Construction of an East Asia Nuclear Security System
211
plants in Japan to 36.
As shown in Table 11.2, the accident rate in Japan was the second lowest globally
(after the United States), but the level 3.11 Fukushima accident has shattered the
myth of nuclear safety in Japan.
11.6 Designing a Nuclear Security System for Japan, China,
and Korea
11.6.1 Issues Related to Nuclear Power Plants in Japan,
China, and Korea
As shown in Fig. 11.5, the scale of nuclear power problems is no longer that of a
single country but extends to regional and global levels. Nuclear power plants in
China (48 operational and 10 under construction) are concentrated in the eight
coastal provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Liaoning, Guangxi,
Fujian, and Hainan. The coastal areas of Japan, South Korea, and China have the
highest density of nuclear power plants (number of reactors per unit area) in the
world. Because of the close geographical and economic relationship among Japan,
China, and South Korea, nuclear issues and accidents in one country can have a
significant impact on the others. There is an urgent need to establish a cooperative
framework for nuclear safety measures and assessments that accounts for trends in
nuclear policy and the increase in risk of future accidents.
For example, the following points pose serious challenges for the Chinese nuclear
community.
Shortage of human resources, especially highly skilled engineers According to
the nuclear power plant plan, about ten one million kilowatt nuclear reactors will be
built simultaneously during the peak period of nuclear power plant construction in
China. It is of grave concern to the international community that there is insufficient
planning, management, and operational capacity to support this rapid expansion.
There is a shortage of human resources, especially high-level engineers, as well as a
shortage of manufacturing capacity, construction and installation capacity, and
research and development and design capacity for nuclear power generation facilities. There is also a lack of regulatory manpower.
Hidden risks in the scarcity of nuclear fuel resources There is no doubt that
China needs nuclear power. However, from a long-term perspective, it may only be
able to supply nuclear fuel for approximately 50 years. The rate of uranium utilization in China is extremely low because short- and medium-term nuclear power plants
are mainly of the PWR type. Such massive resource consumption and low utilization
rates are likely to constrain sustainable development of the nuclear industry due to
shortages in nuclear fuel supply.
11 Construction of an East Asia Nuclear Security System
211