A relatively complete Atomic Energy Law
should be introduced by 2020.
Third, safe and smooth operation of nuclear
power plants should be ensured by finalising
nuclear power safety regulations and procedures,
tightening safety law enforcement and supervision, adopting strict labour discipline and standard operating procedures, and strengthening the
nuclear accident emergency system.
(3) Establish a separate, independent,
authoritative and specialised nuclear
power safety supervision system
In light of the nuclear supervision reform trends in
other countries and the actual problems in China,
four nuclear power safety supervision reform principles—“separate, independent, authoritative and
specialised”—should be followed to strengthen
nuclear safety supervision and enable China to
develop nuclear power at large scale in the future.
First, the correct separation of functions. In
China, management and safety supervision of
nuclear power are already separated. The major
task at present is to clearly define departmental
functions.
Second, focus on specialised legislation and
functions. Legislation on nuclear energy should
contain provisions on not only promoting nuclear
energy development, but also ensuring nuclear
power safety. Absence of either will have negative impacts on the healthy development of the
nuclear power industry. In addition to basic
safety supervision for nuclear facilities and
materials, it is vital that liabilities and the emergency response of third parties are included in
the nuclear power safety assurance system.
(4) Explore and develop environmental safety
standards for nuclear power within the
framework of the three millesimal safety
targets
Environmental safety standards for nuclear
power should be developed within the framework of the three-millesimal safety targets in a
three-step approach.
Step 1: China should focus on the key concerns of the people by assessing the risk to public
health and the potential impacts of radiation and
thermal pollution on the environment. It should
select typical evaluation objects, launch pilot and
demonstration projects, and compare the impacts
of other industrial activities. A pilot risk evaluation project on environmental safety should be
launched using existing data and facts. And an
environmental safety standard development
mechanism—based on data and evidence that
can be communicated, questioned and optimised
—should be established.
Step 2: The scope of environmental safety
targets should be enriched with the experience
gained from the pilot and demonstration projects
to expand risk evaluation and evaluation objects.
Evaluation capacity building should be
strengthened by standardising safety evaluation
guidelines. A mechanism to upgrade nuclear
power environmental standards should be established through information disclosure and public
engagement.
Step 3: As data and facts are accumulated and
the environmental risk evaluation system
improved, environment insurance and reinsurance systems need to be introduced. These in
turn will substantially improve China’s environmental risk evaluation, prevention and mitigation
ability, allowing it to be an integral part of the
state’s governance capability. Nuclear power
environmental safety standards should be
improved by comprehensively comparing risks
and through a mature risk evaluation system.
A development mechanism featuring interaction
between, and checks and balances for, environmental safety standards, nuclear power technologies and environmental safety insurance
should be formed.
(5) Invest more in scientific research to
enhance nuclear technologies
Investment in nuclear science capacity building
should be centralised and improved. In particular, investment in major nuclear science projects
and research and testing facilities should be
Special Report 3: A Study of China’s Technology Revolution
375
should be introduced by 2020.
Third, safe and smooth operation of nuclear
power plants should be ensured by finalising
nuclear power safety regulations and procedures,
tightening safety law enforcement and supervision, adopting strict labour discipline and standard operating procedures, and strengthening the
nuclear accident emergency system.
(3) Establish a separate, independent,
authoritative and specialised nuclear
power safety supervision system
In light of the nuclear supervision reform trends in
other countries and the actual problems in China,
four nuclear power safety supervision reform principles—“separate, independent, authoritative and
specialised”—should be followed to strengthen
nuclear safety supervision and enable China to
develop nuclear power at large scale in the future.
First, the correct separation of functions. In
China, management and safety supervision of
nuclear power are already separated. The major
task at present is to clearly define departmental
functions.
Second, focus on specialised legislation and
functions. Legislation on nuclear energy should
contain provisions on not only promoting nuclear
energy development, but also ensuring nuclear
power safety. Absence of either will have negative impacts on the healthy development of the
nuclear power industry. In addition to basic
safety supervision for nuclear facilities and
materials, it is vital that liabilities and the emergency response of third parties are included in
the nuclear power safety assurance system.
(4) Explore and develop environmental safety
standards for nuclear power within the
framework of the three millesimal safety
targets
Environmental safety standards for nuclear
power should be developed within the framework of the three-millesimal safety targets in a
three-step approach.
Step 1: China should focus on the key concerns of the people by assessing the risk to public
health and the potential impacts of radiation and
thermal pollution on the environment. It should
select typical evaluation objects, launch pilot and
demonstration projects, and compare the impacts
of other industrial activities. A pilot risk evaluation project on environmental safety should be
launched using existing data and facts. And an
environmental safety standard development
mechanism—based on data and evidence that
can be communicated, questioned and optimised
—should be established.
Step 2: The scope of environmental safety
targets should be enriched with the experience
gained from the pilot and demonstration projects
to expand risk evaluation and evaluation objects.
Evaluation capacity building should be
strengthened by standardising safety evaluation
guidelines. A mechanism to upgrade nuclear
power environmental standards should be established through information disclosure and public
engagement.
Step 3: As data and facts are accumulated and
the environmental risk evaluation system
improved, environment insurance and reinsurance systems need to be introduced. These in
turn will substantially improve China’s environmental risk evaluation, prevention and mitigation
ability, allowing it to be an integral part of the
state’s governance capability. Nuclear power
environmental safety standards should be
improved by comprehensively comparing risks
and through a mature risk evaluation system.
A development mechanism featuring interaction
between, and checks and balances for, environmental safety standards, nuclear power technologies and environmental safety insurance
should be formed.
(5) Invest more in scientific research to
enhance nuclear technologies
Investment in nuclear science capacity building
should be centralised and improved. In particular, investment in major nuclear science projects
and research and testing facilities should be
Special Report 3: A Study of China’s Technology Revolution
375