1. Four proposals by President Hu Jintao at Seoul Nuclear Security summit
On 27th March, President Hu Jintao delivered an important speech titled Deepen Cooperation to Improve the Nuclear Security. In his speech, President Hu emphasized that China attaches great importance to nuclear security, and resolutely opposed to nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. He also put forward the following proposals on enhancing nuclear security under the new circumstances:
-- Stick to the scientific and rational approach to nuclear security and boost confidence in the development of nuclear energy.
-- Reinforce nuclear security capacity building and undertake national responsibility for nuclear security.
-- Deepen international exchanges and cooperation and improve global nuclear security.
-- Take a comprehensive and integrated approach to eliminate root causes of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism.
2. Discussion and approval in principle of Civil Nuclear Installation Safety Assessment Report and the 12th 5-year Plan and Long-term Goal of Nuclear Safety and Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution by State Council
On 31st May, Prime Minister Mr Wen Jiabao presided the State Council Standing Committee meeting and listened to the briefing of the result of Civil Nuclear Installation Safety Assessment. During the meeting, the 12th 5-year Plan and Long-term Goal of Nuclear Safety and Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution was principally approved.
General conclusion drawn by the Civil Nuclear Installation Safety Assessment is that China has comprehensively adopted IAEA's safety standards and Chinese nuclear safety regulations and standards are in compliance with international system. A comprehensive study on the external events such as earthquake and flood has been fully conducted during the siting. Effectively management has been carried out in all stages of nuclear power plant including design, manufacture, construction, commissioning and operation.The quality is under control.
The Safety Assessment Report has confirmed that all nuclear power plants both in operation and under construction have basically met the requirements of current National Nuclear Safety Regulations and IAEA's latest Safety Standards and possessed capabilities to the prevention and mitigation of severe accidents to some extents. The risk is under control, and the safety is guaranteed. Civil nuclear research reactors and fuel cycle installations have also met the requirements of National Nuclear Regulations. The risk is under control, and the safety is guaranteed.
The State Council Standing Committee meeting agreed to make the Nuclear Safety Assessment Report and Nuclear Safety Plan public for comments. In October, the Nuclear Safety Plan was approved by the State Council.
3. Approval of Nuclear Power Safety Plan and Nuclear Power Mid-long Term Development Plan
On 24th October, the State Council approved the Nuclear Power Safety Plan 2011-2020 and Nuclear Power Mid-long Term Development Plan 2011-2020.
The State Council meeting has made the deployment in terms of the current and near future nuclear power development: Steady resume of normal construction of nuclear power plants. With rational pace of development, Chinese nuclear power will be promoted in a steady and orderly manner；Scientific deployment of NPP projects. During the 12th Five-Year Plan, a limited number of NPPs will be allowed on the coastal sites which have been fully studied. No NPPs will be built in the inland area; Raise of entry requirements. The new projects should be built based on the highest international safety standards, and newly built NPPs must conform to safety standards of the Third Generation.
The meeting emphasized that safety is the utmost important issue for nuclear power development and China will keep upgrading the nuclear safety of NPPs both in operation and under construction by using the most advanced mature technology, and continuously improve safety performance of the operational NPPs.
4. Industrialization of Chinese indigenous uranium concentration centrifuge
Reported by China Nuclear Industry on 19th December, China has established a comprehensive industrial system capable for R&D and manufacture, engineering design, construction and operation of the uranium concentration and successfully accomplished its industrialization in Lanzhou, Gansu Province. It demonstrated that China has possessed indigenous industrialized capacity for nuclear fuel manufacturing and fully mastered the uranium centrifuge technology. It will bring a significant impact on the sustainable development of China's nuclear power.
5. Unit 1 of Daya Bay NPP in continuous safe operation for 3512 days
On 12th July, based on the first Social Responsibility Report published by CGNPC, unit 1 of Daya Bay NPP has been in safe operation continually for 3512 days up to the end of June 2012. It has maintained the highest record of safe operation of single unit in China by 10-year operation without unplanned shutdown since 2002 12th January.
6. Full accomplishment of Qinshan NPP Phase II and successful connectivity to the grid of Unit 1 of Ningde NPP Phase I
On 8th April, CNNC announced that Qinshan NPP Phase 2 has entered into commercial operation, 60 days ahead of schedule. Up to now, the first two NPP projects kicked off in the 11th Five-Year Plan, Liangao Phase II and Qinshan Phase II expansion, have fully accomplished.
On 28th December, Unit 1of Ningde NPP Phase I was successfully connected to grid.
7. Steady resume of nuclear construction in China by respective kick-off of Unit 4 at Fuqing NPP, Unit 4 at Yangjiang NPP, the Demonstration High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor at Shidaowan NPP and Phase II Project at Tianwan NPP
On 17th November, the first concrete was poured into the foundation of Unit 4 at Fuqing NPP in Fujian Province and Unit 4 at Yangjiang NPP in Guangdong Province respectively. These are first two units in China which officially start construction after Fukushima Nuclear Accident.
On 9th December, the concrete pour to the first level of foundation of the Demonstration High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor of Huaneng Corporation, one of Major State Science and Technology Special Projects, was started at Shidaowan NPP in Shandong Province, and finished on 21 December. This is the first modular HTGR NPP in the world, and one significant independent innovation project in Chinese nuclear power development.
On 6th December, the Protocol on the Cooperation to Construct the Unit 3 and 4 at Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in China between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation Government was officially signed in Moscow in the joint witness of the Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev; On 9th December, State Council meeting reviewed and approved the Tianwan NPP Phase II project; On 26 December, National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) issued the "Construction Permit" for the project. On 27th December, the first tank of concrete was poured at Tianwan NPP Phase II project. It is the first new nuclear power project reviewed and approved by State Council after Fukushima accident in Japan.
The start of the above mentioned projects indicates that China has resumed the construction of nuclear power in steadily and orderly manner.
8.The breakthrough of exploration of uranium resource both in China and abroad
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) harvested "the first bucket of uranium" from the overseas uranium resource exploration.
On 22nd October, Azelik Mining Company Ltd., CNNC, held a ceremony for the first transportation of the uranium products in Niger. With four-year construction and trial operation, Azelik Minethe started to sell the products for the first time and entered into the commercial operation, which indicated Chinese company achieved a breakthrough on commercialization of overseas uranium resources .
Azelik Uranium Mine is a cooperative project jointly promoted by Chinese and Niger governments, based on mutual trust in politics and mutual benefits in economy. CNNC is taking the lead in the development of project. This is the first Chinese overseas uranium project with independent design, construction, operation and management. The project officially started in July 2008, and entered into trial production in March 2011.
Mining rights of China Guandong Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) to the world's fourth largest uranium
On 11st January, the Namibia Competition Commission announced that CGNPC's acquisition of Australia Mining Company, which owned the mining rights of the world's fourth largest uranium mine, was approved.
With approved, Taurus Mineral, a subsidiary of the CGNPC, will acquire a controlling stake of Australia uranium company which possessed the mining license of Hu Sabrina uranium mine in Midwest Namibia .
Discovery of a world-class uranium mine in China
4th November (XINHUA), the uranium exploration in Daying Region , a central area of Inner Mongolia, which is invested and implemented by the Central Geological Exploration Fund, made a major breakthrough, and one largest in-situ leaching sandstone uranium deposit in China was uncovered. With the results of previous exploration, the cumulative amount of accountable uranium resources in Daying region ascend to world-class ores. It has great significant impact to improve assurable uranium supply for nuclear power development relying on domestic uranium resources.
9. Open Day for Public in three Nuclear Industry Groups
Between July and August, CNNC, CGNPC and CPIC have respectively organized NPP Open Day for Public activities. During the Open Day in Qinshan NPP Base organized by CNNC, a public delegation with over 30 public representatives and 30 members from the families composed by NPP staff and local residents from Haiyan County, Zhejiang Province, plus several medias including the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, have zero-distance contact with nuclear power. The delegates visited the exhibition for key equipment mode and simulator room, watched the nuclear safety posters and a film of Nuclear Power for Popular Science, and listened to a topical lecture named Nuclear Safety Culture in Qinshan NPP by nuclear safety culture experts .
Six nuclear power bases of CGNPC, including Daya Bay, Taishan, Yangjiang, Hongyanhe, Ningde and Fangchenggang, held the Open Day for Public simultaneously. More than 700 people, including teachers and students of elementary and middle schools, residents of community and rural scientific staffs from surrounding areas, had a close visit in NPPs.
CPIC held two Open Day for Public at Haiyang NPP. 50 student journalists and their parents made an intimate contact with Haiyang NPP. A Family Day named "Gathering at Shandong NPP for Harmony" was also held. 327 staffs and their families gathered together to enjoy happiness of growth of Haiyang NPP project.
10. 1st Prize Awards of the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA)to Design and Build of Hospital I type Neutron Irradiation and other two projects
On 16th November, 2012, 59 projects won the Science and Technology Award issued by CNEA. Among them, 3 projects including Design and Build of Hospital I-type Neutron Irradiation,R&D on Manufacturing SG for 1000MWe NPP and R&D on Automatic Welding for Narrow Gap of NPP Main Pipe, won the first prize; 12 projects including Independent R&D on Turbine for 650MWe NPP won the second prize; and 44 projects including R&D on Aging Management and Assessment on Surge Line Pipe and Tee Joint for Pressurizer of NPP won the third prize.