China has established a national nuclear emergency rescue team, to cope with potential nuclear accidents, and take part in international rescue operations. CCTV reporter tells us more now on how the country is increasing its nuclear emergency preparedness.
The national rescue team is composed of armed forces members and existing rescue professionals. On duty 24-7, their job is to deal with serious nuclear accidents in the country, or abroad.
"The rescue team has 320 members, and six squads, including technical support, evacuation, rescue, radiation monitoring, decontamination and medical treatment. The bases will conduct drills, training and theoretical studies," said Li Ganjie, Chief of China Nuclear Safety Bureau.
At the end of 2015, the Chinese mainland had 30 operational nuclear power reactors. 24 were under construction, more than in any other country in the world.
The government plans to double current installed nuclear power capacity to 58 GW by 2020. All provinces and cities, where nuclear power plants are located, have their own emergency response forces.
And a nuclear safety law is expected to come out by the end of this year. But new challenges have come as China exports nuclear technologies to international markets.
"Exporting nuclear technology doesn't mean you sell a nuclear power plant, it also involves nuclear safety and emergency systems. Our nuclear emergency response needs to be improved to meet the international level," said Wang Yiren, Deputy Director of China Automatic Energy Authority.
China is expanding nuclear power capacity domestically.
