Currently, China has 36 operational nuclear power units located in eleven different locations. Another 21 units are under construction, expected to generate equivalent to around 19 GWe of nuclear power. China aims to achieve 58 GWe of nuclear supply by 2020. However, this target appears difficult to achieve as China is facing technological problems in manufacturing the AP1000 and EPR reactors as well as the indigenously developed CAP1400 reactor, which is a modified version of the AP1000. These reactors are yet to pass the acceptance tests and demonstrate safe and reliable operations and could add on to the growing trouble being faced by China in nuclear reactors already operational.

According to a report prepared by the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre, Ministry of Environmental Protection, China, in 2016, the 35 operational nuclear units witnessed 72 incidents, 69 of which were graded as of an International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES)-0 and the remaining three as INES-1 incidents.  Though none of the incidents are believed to have resulted in leakage of radioactive material, nor posed any threat to the public, they nevertheless exhibit China’s unsatisfactory nuclear safety standards that could lead to major accidents in future. 

The report further goes on to say that the three major factors responsible for these incidents are related to human error (36), equipment (14), and management shortcomings (8), while 11 incidents took place due to a combination of all these factors. It has also been observed that human errors in majority of the incidents occurred due to lack of proper work principle and practices. On the other hand, equipment related incidents were a result of poor designs.

Ningde nuclear power plant in the coastal Fujian province had the largest number of incidents (22, including two graded INES-1), largely due to equipment error. This plant has been showcased as a pioneer in the development of China’s domestic nuclear industry and houses four units of the indigenously designed CPR-1000 reactor. However, with 22 incidents in one year, it casts serious doubts on the Chinese claims of self-sufficiency in the design and manufacturing of nuclear power plant equipment. These incidents also raise doubts on China’s claim that it has a well established nuclear safety infrastructure for its nuclear power plants and a well established nuclear safety supervisory & management system.

With 21 new plants under construction, the possibility of these incidents cascading into a major nuclear disaster exist, not only in China but also in countries where China has assisted in setting up nuclear power plants. Key among these countries is Pakistan, which is operating four nuclear power plants supplied by China, with plans to construct three more.  Further, these incidents could impact China’s plans to supply nuclear plants to foreign countries like Turkey, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, etc., unless necessary and immediate steps are not taken to overcome these deficiencies.

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