TNAG-1059-FCO40-1309-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-1981 — Page 93

GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION PROJECT

NOTE OF MEETING BETWEEN SIR LAWRENCE KADOORIE AND DR WALTER MARSHALL THURSDAY

6 AUGUST

Those Present:

Dr W Marshall

Mr R Gausden

Mr O Plail

Sir L Kadoorie Mr R A Brown

Dr Marshall said he welcomed the opportunity to explain the current position on the design of the UK's proposed first PWR and particularly the relationship with safety issues and the implications for the Guangdong nuclear project.

He reminded Sir Lawrence that initially his advice had been that there was no great difference between the American, French or German reactors as respects their safety. All could be judged broadly comparable and acceptably safe. However he had later had to advise Sir Lawrence that the NNC had interpreted the NII guidelines and CEGB requirements in such way as to produce a very different reference design from any existing world reactors. This could have the effect of throwing into relief higher UK requirements and cast a doubt on the acceptability in particular of French designs. As a result he would not be able to give an unqualified assurance that any French reactor would be licenceable in the UK. This placed him in a particularly difficult position in view of the earlier statements by Sir Lawrence linking safety on the Guangdong project to general UK safety standards. Dr Marshall had explained the potential difficulties to M. Pecquer his opposite number in the French Atomic Energy Agency.

However since then the CEGB had increasingly lost confidence in the NMC and the likely costs of the NNC design had caused widespread concern. The Department of Energy had therefore called all parties together and it had subsequently been agreed to subsume the individual interests under a task force which would be headed by Dr Marshall. As a result smooth relationships have been established. Equally significantly, it had been agreed that the elaborate NNC reference design was not needed to meet NII or CEGB requirements. Dr Marshall expected to approve the new design in about ten days and that this would be much closer to the Westinghouse or Framatome reactor although it would incorporate post TMI standards. As a result Dr Marshall felt he could revert to his earlier advice that all the designs would be "broadly similar" and acceptable on safety grounds. M. Pecquer had been advised of the changed position.

Dr Marshall therefore concluded that all reactors would be broadly similar on safety grounds and safety was not a determining factor in the choice of reactor for the Guangdong project.

Dr Marshall then noted the outstanding request to him from the Governor of Hong Kong to make a presentation to the Environmental Committee of the Hong Kong Government. He had had the UK AEA prepare a document which would form the basis of the presentation and a copy was handed to Sir Lawrence. Dr Marshall introduced Mr Gausden the former Chief Inspector of nuclear installations. He was now an advisor to UK AEA and would be available to lead the discussions on safety in Hong Kong should it be agreed that in view of his background his presence might be more appropriate than that of Dr Marshall.

In discussion it was agreed that it will be desirable for Mr Gausden and Mr Plail to make an exploratory and introductory visit to see the appropriate senior