Lack of technology to treat radioactive waste Despite the fact that China has
established a radioactive waste disposal system, the disposal of such large volumes
of radioactive waste remains challenging. Treatment of radioactive waste, from
research experiments to the production of treatment equipment, requires huge
investment and many years of experience. This could provide an excellent business
opportunity for companies in other countries that have already developed advanced
technology to treat radioactive waste.
11.6.2 Implications of Global Analysis of Nuclear Accidental
Events
The following implications are evident from our global analysis of accidental events
of INES level 2 or higher at private nuclear power plants since 1992.
By country, the United States has a remarkably low accidental event rate,
indicating that significant regulation by the NRC is yielding results, while France
has a higher frequency of accidental events but fewer serious events. This reflects
differences in safety measures in different countries.
Graphite reactors show a noticeably higher accidental event rate, followed by
Russian reactors. Furthermore, since accidental events in Russian reactors are
mainly caused by intrinsic phenomena, it is clear that this reactor type is responsible
for many accidental events. The IAEA have raised safety concerns with regard to the
design of this type of reactor.
When the number of accidental events is categorized by operational period, the
number of accidental events significantly increases after 16–20 years of operation.
The accidental event rate is less than 1 per-mil (‰) for operational periods of
40 years or less.
The above findings are informative for the safe operation of nuclear reactors and
should be taken into account as a minimum in future policy decisions. In particular,
Japan, China, and South Korea are heavily dependent on nuclear power generation
and are geographically vulnerable to the mutual effects of a nuclear power accident.
Therefore, it is extremely important to elucidate the causes of such accidents and
accumulate knowledge on security and to construct an East Asia nuclear security
system centered on human resource development and exchange, information
exchange and sharing, and technology development and transfer.
11.6.3 Proposing an East Asia Nuclear Security System
On May 22, 2011, the leaders of China, Japan, and South Korea met and agreed to
strengthen cooperation in nuclear safety and disaster prevention in the wake of the
Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi
212
W. Zhou et al.
established a radioactive waste disposal system, the disposal of such large volumes
of radioactive waste remains challenging. Treatment of radioactive waste, from
research experiments to the production of treatment equipment, requires huge
investment and many years of experience. This could provide an excellent business
opportunity for companies in other countries that have already developed advanced
technology to treat radioactive waste.
11.6.2 Implications of Global Analysis of Nuclear Accidental
Events
The following implications are evident from our global analysis of accidental events
of INES level 2 or higher at private nuclear power plants since 1992.
By country, the United States has a remarkably low accidental event rate,
indicating that significant regulation by the NRC is yielding results, while France
has a higher frequency of accidental events but fewer serious events. This reflects
differences in safety measures in different countries.
Graphite reactors show a noticeably higher accidental event rate, followed by
Russian reactors. Furthermore, since accidental events in Russian reactors are
mainly caused by intrinsic phenomena, it is clear that this reactor type is responsible
for many accidental events. The IAEA have raised safety concerns with regard to the
design of this type of reactor.
When the number of accidental events is categorized by operational period, the
number of accidental events significantly increases after 16–20 years of operation.
The accidental event rate is less than 1 per-mil (‰) for operational periods of
40 years or less.
The above findings are informative for the safe operation of nuclear reactors and
should be taken into account as a minimum in future policy decisions. In particular,
Japan, China, and South Korea are heavily dependent on nuclear power generation
and are geographically vulnerable to the mutual effects of a nuclear power accident.
Therefore, it is extremely important to elucidate the causes of such accidents and
accumulate knowledge on security and to construct an East Asia nuclear security
system centered on human resource development and exchange, information
exchange and sharing, and technology development and transfer.
11.6.3 Proposing an East Asia Nuclear Security System
On May 22, 2011, the leaders of China, Japan, and South Korea met and agreed to
strengthen cooperation in nuclear safety and disaster prevention in the wake of the
Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi
212
W. Zhou et al.