The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, recently concluded a 12-day mission to China where it conducted a full-scope review of all of China’s nuclear facilities, activities and safety framework.
This review is the first of its kind in almost a decade, according to the Nuclear Engineering International (NEI) publication. The last mission took place in 2016, when there were 32 reactor units in operation. Currently, China is operating 59 units that generate 5% of the country’s electricity, and has 32 units under construction and 21 planned.
According to the article, the IAEA’s Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team comprised 24 members, including 20 “senior regulatory experts” from across the globe, four IAEA staff members, and a Japanese observer.
After reviewing areas including government functions and inspection processes, the team’s two main policy issues it discussed were the impact of the rapid development of AI on regulation practices and how the surge in reactor units in China caused a worker shortage.
“The fast growth in China’s nuclear power programme will require the recruitment and training of a significant number of additional nuclear professionals in the regulatory field in the coming years,” Mark Foy, the IRRS team leader, said in the NEI article. “Its use of technology to support the effectiveness of its national regulator is an exemplar for all of us to learn from.”
The final mission report, complete with recommendations and best practices, will be available in three months.
