1 Oct (NucNet): A new emergency control centre has begun operation at the Qinshan nuclear plant in eastern China. It is one of the key safety improvements carried out following the March 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), which oversees all aspects of China’s civilian and military nuclear programmes, said in a statement that the control centre would take nuclear emergency preparedness and response capabilities at the plant to a level required by post-Fukushima recommendations called for by the government.
CNNC said the centre includes emergency communications and broadcasting systems, and can be used for monitoring radiation levels, weather and seismic activity. It has multiple communications and power supply systems that could be used to provide power to the nuclear plant in the event of a loss-of-power incident.
The centre’s nine staff have direct communications links to organisations including the National Nuclear Security Administration, the National Emergency Office, the Emergency Management Office and the government of Zhejiang Province.
The Qinshan nuclear plant has seven nuclear reactors in commercial operation. Five are pressurised water reactors and two are Candu-6 pressurised heavy water reactors;
In October 2012 China’s state council said China would need to spend around 80 billion yuan (12.7 billion US dollars, 9.7 billion euros) by 2015 to upgrade the security and safety of its nuclear facilities and radioactive contamination control to international standards.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, China has 18 nuclear reactors in commercial operation and 28 under construction.
