The 2018 National Conference on Experience Feedback from NPPs, co-organized by MEE/NNSA and National Energy Administration (NEA), was held successfully on 25-26 October 2018 in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. Liu Hua, Deputy Minister of MEE and Director of NNSA, Tang Bo, Deputy Director of MEE/DNFSR, and Shi Lishan, Deputy Director of NEA/Nuclear Power Department (NPD) attended the meeting.

The representatives from NNSA described the general situation of nuclear safety regulation among NNPs countrywide in 2018, followed by the report from NSC about the operation of experience feedback system between NPPs. Exchanges were made in several sessions on NPPs’ operation, construction and commissioning, good practices, and some challenges, together with various types of topics being discussed. Further discussions were focused on the issues present in NPPs’ operation, construction and commissioning, with emphasis on the countermeasure and solution. The conference achieved good results, effectively promoting the continued improvement of nuclear safety management in NPPs.

Liu Hua affirmed the results achieved in nuclear safety regulation in 2018, and pointed out the current facing situations and missions, with arrangements for the work in the next step. Liu stressed that this year is the first year of promoting the implementation of Nuclear Safety Act, and the first year for the first AP1000 and EPR reactors to enter into operation. This is such a year that plays an important role in the country’s nuclear safety history to connect the preceding and the following. Inspired by nuclear safety spirit, we should comprehensively strengthen the spiritual culture prevailing in regulatory system for nuclear and radiation safety. Continued efforts should be put on strengthening nuclear safety culture for both regulatory organizations and staff as a whole. Focused attention should be paid to the operational team for continuing improving the safety level of nuclear power operation. Information disclosure and public participation should be promoted to increase the public confidence on nuclear safety. The safety of nuclear units in operation, together with controllable quality of units under construction, should be ensured on a problem-oriented basis.

Attendees for the conference included leaders and representatives, totaling 150 people, from MEE/NNSA, NEA, MEE-subsidiary regional nuclear and radiation oversight stations, technical support organizations, nuclear power construction and operation groups, the design, construction and operation companies for nuclear power, Nuclear Industry Association, and China Nuclear Society.