Inland nuclear power is as safe as coastal nuclear power
On May 31, Zhang Huazhu, chairman of the China Nuclear Energy Industry Association, pointed out at the conference on the research results of the environmental impact assessment project for inland nuclear power plants held in Yiyang, Hunan: "As long as the inland nuclear power project site is strictly selected, advanced technology is adopted to implement the defense-in-depth principle. At the same time, the China Nuclear Energy Industry Association announced to the public for the first time: "The coastal nuclear power plant and the inland nuclear power plant are not essentially different, and they are all safe. I am a domestic nuclear power plant. Water, gas and other emissions meet international high standards, will not affect the environment and public health; China's proposed inland nuclear power project site selection conditions are good, it is impossible to have a serious accident like the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan."
It is understood that this is the first time that the nuclear energy industry has publicly released research results on inland nuclear power to the public. It is also the highest-profile, largest-scale and most authoritative research report on inland nuclear power. The Taohuajiang Nuclear Power Project, one of the first inland nuclear power projects to be built in China, is located in Yiyang, Hunan Province.
Scientifically answer various social questions
After the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, the public’s doubts about the construction of inland nuclear power have increased significantly. They are particularly concerned about the impact of nuclear power plant operations on downstream water quality and the impact of serious accidents on water resources security. Many people “talk about nuclear color change” and make China The nuclear power industry was once hit by the cold winter. Based on this understanding, the international nuclear energy community began to profoundly summarize the lessons of the Fukushima nuclear accident, and further proposed the requirements for comprehensive and balanced implementation of the defense-in-depth security principles and the requirements for improvement actions after the Fukushima nuclear accident.
Zhao Chengkun, vice chairman of the China Nuclear Energy Industry Association, introduced at the meeting to answer various questions for science and restore confidence in the development of China's domestic nuclear power. In 2012, the China Nuclear Energy Industry Association organized more than 50 industry experts and engineering and technical personnel, which lasted for one year. Through the research on the "Evaluation of Environmental Impacts of Inland Nuclear Power Plants", a research report integrating science and authority has been completed.
According to reports, the study involved eight major factors affecting the environment of inland nuclear power plants, including power plant site selection, water use, heat dissipation, radiation effects, environmental risks after severe accidents, and mitigation measures. Experts on the main environmental problems of inland nuclear power plants and public concerns, through extensive and in-depth investigations, combined with the proposed reactor type and site location of inland nuclear power plants in China, have more than 3,000 years of experience in operating inland nuclear power plants The actual environmental conditions and safety conditions of the inland nuclear power plants in the United States and France, as well as the environmental conditions of the two nuclear power bases in Qinshan and Daya Bay, China, have been extensively analyzed.
Inland power plants have higher safety standards
The above research believes that China's nuclear power safety standards are consistent with the latest standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Inland nuclear power plants are consistent with coastal nuclear power plant safety standards (inland plants are more stringent in terms of radioactive liquid effluent emissions); Water, gas and other emissions meet international high standards, and the increase in radiation impact on the environment is much lower than the radiation level of the environmental background, and will not affect the environment and public health.
The conclusions of the study also show that the location of the proposed inland nuclear power project in China is in good condition, and it is impossible for a serious accident like the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan; the fresh water consumption of the inland nuclear power plant using the secondary circulation cooling technology will not The amount of water resources affecting the basin; the downstream water quality of the inland nuclear power plant can reach the drinking water standard; by taking further engineering measures, it can ensure the safety of water resources and public health under serious accidents; the serious health risks of inland nuclear power plants are less than the public health risks Other human activities.
Mao Yawei, director of the China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., said: "Inland nuclear power plants are not fundamentally different from coastal nuclear power plants in terms of environmental impacts of normal operation. Considering the characteristics of inland nuclear power plant sites, liquid effluent emission control and water Resources argumentation and other aspects need to do a good job of analysis and demonstration."
In addition, with regard to the continuous emergence of “terror-nuclear syndrome” phenomena in recent years, the study also believes that it is necessary to establish a scientific and rational security concept, let information be publicized, let the public know, and enhance the confidence in developing inland nuclear power. Zhou Dadi, executive vice chairman of the China Energy Research Association, previously pointed out: "Safety and insecurity are relatively common. All kinds of energy have safety evaluation problems. Compared with other types of energy safety accidents, the frequency of nuclear accidents and casualties Relatively low."
According to the information, more than half of the nuclear power plants in operation around the world are built in inland areas. The proportion of inland nuclear power in France and the United States accounts for 69% and 61.5% respectively. There are 32 nuclear power units in the Mississippi River Basin in the United States. In some countries, such as Switzerland, Ukraine, Belgium, etc., all of their nuclear power plants are built inland. Inland nuclear power has become an important part of the development of nuclear power.
"If nuclear power projects are concentrated only on the coast, China's nuclear power development is bound to be constrained. At the same time, the development of inland nuclear power is also an inevitable need for inland economic and social development." Zhang Huazhu said. Zhou Dadi also pointed out that China's development of nuclear power is mainly to meet the growing energy supply and consider the safety and cleanliness of energy supply. "Nuclear power is clean. There is no doubt. At the same time, China's nuclear power technology and construction standards have been at the forefront of the world. As long as such high standards are steadily advanced, China's nuclear power is also very safe." Zhou Dadi pointed out.
The study suggests that during the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” period, the proposed inland nuclear power projects will be allowed to carry out various preliminary work in a timely manner; and the project approval for inland nuclear power projects will be started in due course, so that qualified projects can be started as soon as possible.