Guangming Daily: Public trust in nuclear power comes from information transparency
Source: Guangming Daily. Date: 2014-05-26.
Under the arrangement of EDF, the reporter recently visited Nogent-sur-Seine in the upper reaches of the Seine in southeast Paris to visit this inland nuclear power plant on the banks of the Seine. Between the endless green trees and fields, two tall cooling towers gradually appear under the blue sky and white clouds. I wonder how this nuclear power plant upstream of the French capital's water source can assure the public?
Ms. Li Xiaoya, accompanied by our French-Asia-Pacific news leader Ms. Li Xiaoya, said that nuclear power currently accounts for 74.5% of France's total power generation in France. Nuclear power ensures stable electricity prices in France, autonomous energy, and a 50% reduction in energy imports, making France one of the countries with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. France's 58 pressurized water reactor units are distributed in 19 sites across the country, and the unit's operating life is at least 40 years, which provides a reliable, safe, and greenhouse gas-free power supply. Around 2020, one-third of the nuclear power plants in France will reach the end of their lifespan and enter the stage of upgrading. Now, the construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants with higher environmental protection and safety has begun. In April 2007, the construction of the first third-generation reactor EPR (European Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor) was launched in La Manche Province. France has also developed a fourth-generation reactor research and development plan, which is planned to form an industrial scale in 2040. At the same time, in order to extend the operational life of active nuclear power units from 40 years to 60 years, EDF is carrying out large-scale facility renovation and reconstruction plans. Of course, as a major nuclear power country that has not had a major accident for many years, the development of French nuclear power depends not only on advanced technology, but also on continuous improvement of operation management and information transparency to obtain public support and understanding.
In the "public information center" of the power station, the reporter saw the leading members of the "Local Information Committee" of Nuojiang and saw the students led by the teacher in groups. This is not only a popular science education base, but also a social communication platform for nuclear power safety information. Mr. Unselin, who has chaired the committee since 1993, said that the two 1.3 million kilowatt nuclear power plants of the Nookan nuclear power plant were put into operation in 1987 and 1988 respectively. Partial electricity is also guaranteed in the Greater Paris area. The “Local Information Committee” (CLI) was almost accompanied by the birth of the power station. According to an administrative decree of the French government in 1981, nuclear power operation companies communicate with surrounding residents on a voluntary basis and are responsible for monitoring safety operations and information transparency. On June 13, 2006, France promulgated the Nuclear Power Safety and Information Transparency Act, giving the French Nuclear Safety Agency an independent administrative agency legal status, including the "Local Information Commission" into the legal scope and ensuring funding sources. The statute defines nuclear information transparency as "all measures taken to ensure that the public has access to reliable nuclear safety information." After the decree was promulgated, transparency of nuclear information became a mandatory responsibility, and any individual has the right to request information on nuclear safety and nuclear radiation from a nuclear power plant operator. Questions from the "Local Information Committee" to nuclear power operators must be answered within 8 working days.
At present, there are 38 "Local Information Committees" under the provincial council where nuclear power facilities are located, which have played an active role in dispeling doubts and safe operations for the people. Among the 68 members of the Novotel Local Information Committee, 46 are local councillors, and the rest come from unions, environmental organizations, and celebrities from all walks of life. The annual funding is about 15,000 euros. The information provided by the nuclear power plant can be analyzed and additional funding can be obtained if necessary Perform independent technical identification. The committee organizes site visits to the power plant every year and holds at least two regular meetings to allow the public to ask representatives of nuclear power operating companies about important information and operating conditions of nuclear power plants. Mr. Unserland said that no matter major incidents, including work accidents, the power station will be notified to him immediately.
Ms. Katerina Buck, the plant manager of Nogent Power Plant and Mr. Barron, the safety director, told reporters that from the design, construction and production of the power plant to the disposal of waste materials, nuclear power safety must be continuous throughout and under the supervision of the French Nuclear Safety Agency and the public . French inland nuclear power plants are designed in accordance with the millennium flood prevention standard for flood prevention. Safety testing is accompanied by operation, and safety standards have been continuously improved. The Nuojiang power station employs nearly 1,000 people. Last year, the total staff training time reached 100,000 hours to respond to emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, water outages, power outages and major accidents at any time. The 40 employees responsible for monitoring environmental safety data track the air, water quality and waste liquid discharge around the power station around the clock, and conduct 12,000 sampling tests and analyses every year. The French Nuclear Safety Agency inspected the Nogent power plant 15 times last year. Environmental and emissions monitoring information is shared with society, and it is subject to analysis, review and public opinion supervision by the "Local Information Committee." The power station also has a hotline.
It is understood that France is one of the few countries that has concentrated its nuclear fuel cycle facilities on its territory, and it is a world model in terms of nuclear fuel cycle safety supervision. The French Nuclear Safety Agency administers nuclear radioactive radioactive radiation according to its density and cycle. Each of the 58 nuclear reactors in service produces 1 kg of radioactive waste per capita per year. According to the Energy Law, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (ANDRA) sorts and processes nuclear waste under conditions of safety and radiation protection, and is also responsible for predicting the total amount of nuclear waste to be disposed of in the next 10, 20, and 20 years.
It seems that it is precisely the public's concern about the safe operation of nuclear power that has become the driving force of information transparency and standard improvement at any time. With continuous improvement of management, France has gained public trust in nuclear power safety.