New nuclear power plants 'set to be approved'
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New nuclear power projects may be approved, following suspension of the procedure on March 16 by the State Council after the Japanese tsunami, when the nuclear safety plan is issued, probably in August, a senior nuclear expert said.
"Operating plants and plants under construction will soon be inspected and reviewed by a group of experts," Lin Chengge, a senior expert at the State Nuclear Power Technology Corp Ltd (SNPTC) and former deputy director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), told China Daily.
The review group completed an inspection of the Daya Bay nuclear power plant in Guangdong province, last week.
"Results of the inspection will be provided to the government so it can decide if safety improvements are needed," Lin said.
The move came after the government said on March 16 that it would suspend approval for new nuclear projects, following Japan's nuclear crisis, until a safety plan is issued.
The NNSA also ordered existing facilities to launch safety checks following the Japan crisis.
"I think China will use the most advanced third-generation technology in all future nuclear plants," Lin said.
Four reactors under construction will use the third-generation AP 1000 model designed by US company Westinghouse Electric and introduced by the SNPTC in 2006.
"One of the units will have 70 percent of its components made in China," Lin said.
"Only the most advanced technology can restore people's confidence in nuclear safety."
However, other experts are divided on the technology to be adopted by China's future nuclear plants.
