Ensuring Nuclear Safety and Security in China

Most of the global growth of nuclear power over the coming decade will occur in China. The safety and security policies guiding that growth are significant far beyond China, since an accident or act of terrorism would affect the use of nuclear energy around the world.

In January, the Managing the Atom Project (MTA) held a workshop in Shenzhen, China, to discuss safety and security at China’s nuclear power and fuel cycle facilities. The China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA), and Peking University’s Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INST) co-sponsored the workshop.

Experts and policy officials discussed nuclear regulations in China, material accounting practices, physical protection measures at nuclear power plants, countering insider threats, and preparations for the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit.

Belfer Center participants included Matthew Bunn, Martin Malin, WilliamTobey, and Hui Zhang. MTA fellow ZhaoShangui, who will return to China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection, discussed China’s safety and security regulations.

A number of senior Chinese technical experts and policy officials from China’s nuclear energy and regulatory agencies attended, including Deng Ge (China Atomic Energy Authority), Liu Daming and GuZhongmao (China Institute of Atomic Energy), Zhu Xuhui (China National Nuclear Corporation), Liu Tianshu (China’s National Nuclear Safety Administration), Liu Wei (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), ZhangTuosheng (China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies), Li Hong (CACDA), and Tang Yingmao (INST, Peking University).