China's nuclear regulator issues construction licence for Xuwei Phase 1 unit 3

BEIJING, Nov 2 — China's National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) on Nov 2 issued a construction licence for unit 3 of the Jiangsu Xuwei Nuclear Heating Power Plant Phase 1 project, saying the unit's design principles and nuclear safety-related activities meet national nuclear safety rules.

The licence, No. 2621, was issued to CNNC Suneng Nuclear Power Co. and runs until Nov 1, 2036, according to the NNSA notice and the attached licence.

The regulator also said an inspection team found the site ready for the first pour of concrete for the unit 3 nuclear island foundation. The notice clears the company to begin that work.

The NNSA said it reviewed the company's construction application and related documents under the Nuclear Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and the regulations on the safety supervision of civilian nuclear facilities. The NNSA said it had received the company's submission of version C of the unit's preliminary safety analysis report.

Under the licence, CNNC Suneng Nuclear Power Co. bears overall responsibility for nuclear safety as the unit's operator. Any change to its commitments in the construction application and safety reports requires NNSA approval.

The licence also requires the company to carry out long-term testing of materials for high-temperature components under the reviewed plan. It must provide valid test data by the dates it committed to.

The company must implement version A5 of the unit's quality assurance programme for the construction stage, the notice said.

If construction is not finished when the licence expires, the company must apply to the NNSA for an extension 30 days before expiry. It must apply for an operating licence before the first fuel loading at unit 3.