CHINA-INTERNAL: NUCLEAR POWER
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China General Nuclear Power Corp., a state enterprise, will soon complete and operate a US$ 8.3 billion generating station with two 1,750 megawatt reactors developed by Areva, the French company, in Taishan, in China’s Guangdong province and approx. 80 miles west of Hong Kong. Electricite de France is overseeing the project and is 30% owner of the operating entity. The two European Pressurized Reactors (EPR) in Taishan will each have twice the generating capacity of the average reactor and be the largest in the world. They have not been put into commercial operation before.
Stephane Pailler of France’s Nuclear Safety Authority told French legislators that “We don’t have a regular relationship with the Chinese on EPR control like we have with the Finnish” and “unfortunately, collaboration isn’t at a level we would wish it to be” .
China is pressing ahead with construction of nuclear reactors and exporting them to countries like Pakistan, which is their first customer and is buying an advanced Chinese model that will be the first of its kind. Pakistanis are worried that the untested reactors could pose a threat to Karachi’s 20 million inhabitants. During Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to UK last week, Britain signed an agreement to allow Chinese companies to build, own, and operate Chinese-designed nuclear power plants in Britain. Three Chinese state enterprises are contemplating projects in Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, and Argentina.
Li Yulun, a former Vice President of China National Nuclear Corp., has expressed concern that Chinese companies working on reactor projects do not share Beijing’s emphasis on safety. The State Council Research Office has also raised doubts about the accelerated pace of reactor construction in China.
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