XN000022-1986-05-07 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1986

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BEST STANDARDS APPLY AT DAYA BAY

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO BE BUILT AT DAYA BAY WOULD BE GOVERNED BY THE BEST AVAILABLE INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS IN RESPECT OF DESIGN, MANUFACTURE, ERECTION, COMMISSIONING AND OPERATION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARIA TAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR JOHN SAID THESE STANDARDS HAD BEEN INCORPORATED IN ALL CONTRACTS BEING PLACED BY THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER JOINT VENTURE COMPANY (JVC).

+THE NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT AND NUCLEAR DESIGN FOR THE PLANT ARE BEING OBTAINED BY THE JVC FROM FRANCE SO AS TO TAKE THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE BENEFIT OF THE SUCCESSFUL NUCLEAR PROGRAMME THERE AND, IN PARTICULAR, OF THE VERY HIGH SAFETY STANDARD RECORD OF THE FRENCH, SIR JOHN SAID.

THERE WERE NOW OVER 40 SIMILAR PRESSURISED WATER REACTORS (PWR'S) OPERATING SATISFACTORILY IN FRANCE ALONE, THE SECOND LARGEST NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMME IN THE WORLD, AND THERE WERE 160 PWR'S ALTOGETHER, HE SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE DAYA BAY STATION WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT TO THAT AT CHERNOBYL IN THE SOVIET UNION.

SIR JOHN WENT ON TO SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO THE SELECTION OF THE FRENCH COMPANY, FRAMATOME, TO SUPPLY THE NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT, THE FRENCH NATIONAL UTILITY ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE (EDF) HAD A SUPERVISING ROLE TO ENSURE THAT SPECIFIED STANDARDS WERE MET.

+TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, EDF IS PARTICIPATING WITH THE JVC ON ALL TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT,+ HE SAID.

+THUS, ALTHOUGH THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PROJECT IS BEING BUILT BY THE CHINESE IN CHINA, THERE IS INTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN AND COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS.+

SIR JOHN SAID THAT BESIDES THE FRENCH SAFETY STANDARDS THAT HAD BEEN ADOPTED FOR THE PROJECT, APPLICABLE INTERNATIONAL AND CHINESE STANDARDS WOULD ALSO BE OBSERVED.

+ IN THE APPLICATION OF THESE VARIOUS STANDARDS, THE FRENCH STANDARDS WILL BE TAKEN AS A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT,+ HE SAID.

+IN ADDITION, CHINA HAS ESTABLISHED ITS OWN NATIONAL LICENSING AUTHORITY (THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR SAFETY AUTHORITY DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE STATE COUNCIL) WHICH HAS A CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE FRENCH LICENSING AUTHORITY (THE FRENCH CENTRAL SERVICE FOR THE SAFETY OF NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS) REGARDING THE USE OF FRENCH STANDARDS.

'CHINA'S LICENSING