Guaranteeing Sound Development of Nuclear Undertaking: Commentary

Home>>Opinion

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 07, 2003

Guaranteeing Sound Development of Nuclear Undertaking: Commentary

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) passed the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Radioactive Contamination on June 28, 2003, in order to establish and perfect China's nuclear and radiation safety legal system, intensify the prevention and control of radioactive contamination, guarantee people's health and environmental safety and promote the development and utilization of nuclear energy and nuclear technology.

The adoption and enforcement of this law, which is a major event of landmark significance in China's work of preventing and controlling radioactive pollution, indicate the complete incorporation of China's work of preventing and controlling radioactive contamination into the track of legalized management, it will definitely give a great impetus to the development of China's work of preventing and controlling radioactive contamination, thereby pushing this work to a new stage.

The discovery of the radioactive phenomenon and the development of nuclear energy have brought enormous benefits to mankind. As a kind of clean energy, nuclear energy is assuming an ever-larger proportion in the share of the world electric power. While providing us with energy, nuclear energy also helps reduce the discharge of industrial waste gas and thus effectively protects the environment. The widespread application of nuclear technology in the fields of scientific research, education, medicine, industry and agriculture has also brought many conveniences to mankind. China's nuclear undertaking has a history of over 50 years. The Party Central Committee and the State Council have, for many years, consistently attached great importance to the supervision and management of nuclear and radiation safety, formulated the "safety first, and quality first" principle, stressed that nuclear and radiation safety is an important component of national security, and so it is necessary to strengthen supervision and management, straighten out the system, clearly define responsibility, formulate and perfect relevant policies and regulations and enhance testing and supervising capabilities. As a member state of the IAEA (International Atom Energy Agency) and signatory country to the international "Nuclear Safety Convention", China has constantly raised the level of nuclear and radiation safety. However, we should clearly take note of the fact that the problem of safety and radioactive pollution has become increasingly striking in the process of the development and utilization of China's nuclear energy and nuclear technology, which will become potential threat to the environment and to the health of the public if management is not strengthened. To avoid this, it is necessary to legislate and intensify the work of preventing and controlling radioactive pollution according to law.

On the basis of reviewing China's experiences and lessons in the utilization of nuclear energy and nuclear technology over the past decades and learning from the successful experiences gained by some nuclear countries in the prevention and control of radioactive pollution, the Law on the Prevention and Control of Radioactive Contamination laid down stipulations on the prevention and control of pollution in the aspects of the application of nuclear facilities and nuclear technology, the development of uranium (thorium) and associated ores as well as the management of radioactive waste materials, and established the systems of license for nuclear facilities, the appraisal on environmental influence, the monitoring of radiation environment, and the management of nuclear accident emergency; and instituted the whole process "from cradle to grave" management over the prevention and control of radioactive contamination. Particularly in the aspects of nuclear technology application and the management of radioactive waste materials, the Law absorbed China's experiences and lessons gained in this respect, getting the supervision and management of radioactive source and radiographic set-up to cover various links including production, marketing, use, transfer, import and export, transportation, storage, handling and treatment, and implemented the idea of whole-process management, which has made fairly big improvement compared with China's current practice.

In order to promote the sustainable development of nuclear energy and nuclear technology application and prevent and control radioactive pollution, it is imperative to carry out strict whole-process supervision and management according to law over the activities related to radioactive pollution that may possibly result from the application of nuclear installations and nuclear technology and the exploitation of uranium and associated ores. The Law clearly defined that the environmental protection administrative department under the State Council legally exercises unified supervision and management over the country's work of preventing and controlling radioactive pollution, nuclear installation operation unit, nuclear technology application unit and uranium (thorium) and associated radioactive ore development and utilization unit are responsible for the prevention and control of radioactive pollution in their respective units, accept the supervision and management of the environmental protection department and other relevant departments, and legally undertake the responsibility for the resultant radioactive pollution and its consequence. The Law authorized the environmental protection administrative department under the State Council to set standards for the prevention and control of radioactive pollution in accordance with the requirement of environmental safety and the country's economic and technical conditions. The State institutes a check-up and qualification affirmation system for institutions and personnel engaged in the prevention and control of radioactive pollution and in testing work.

All Chinese work units and personnel engaging in the work related to the development of nuclear energy and the development and utilization of nuclear technology should conscientiously study and actively implement the Law on the Prevention and Control of Radioactive Contamination, and strictly abide by relevant stipulations of the Law. Relevant departments should make concerted efforts in the work of preventing and controlling radioactive pollution, further establish the environment monitoring authority, timely provide monitoring information to the public and the international community and promote the healthy development of China's nuclear energy and nuclear technology. We believe that so long as we persist in the "three represents" important thought, keep pace with the times, engage in exploration and innovation, conscientiously perform our duty of supervising and managing nuclear and radiation safety, exercise administration according to law and strictly enforce the law, the work of supervising and managing China's nuclear and radiation safety will certainly achieve still greater progress and make new contribution to China's economic and social sustainable development.

By People's Daily Online

Questions?Comments? Click here

Draft Law on Safe Use of Nuclear Power to be Reviewed

Nuclear Terror: US Ships High-Radiation Device to China by Mistake

Tripod Set Up in Deng's Hometown to Commemorate Anniversary of His Birth ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Regard Haphazard Spitting as most Disgusting Habit ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Mainland, HK Vows to Forge Closer Economic Ties ( 3 Messages)

Hu Jintao Addresses Symposium on "Three Represents" ( 3 Messages)

BBC, Downing Street Dispute over Weapon Dossier ( 3 Messages)