North China Regional Office of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Conducts Pre-Criticality Inspection of Shidao Bay High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor

Recently, in order to effectively consolidate the primary responsibility of the operating unit, closely focus on the important milestone of criticality following the overhaul, and comprehensively drive the improvement of the safety level of the demonstration project, the North China Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the North China Supervision Station) organized and conducted the pre-criticality inspection of the reactor following the second overhaul of the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Demonstration Project at the Huaneng Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Plant.

As the world's first fourth-generation nuclear power plant independently developed by China with fully independent intellectual property rights, the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor holds milestone significance for China in achieving scientific and technological self-reliance and leading the world in nuclear energy technology. The North China Supervision Station deeply recognizes the major mission of supervising the world's first reactor of its kind, and has carried out coordinated planning and formulated a detailed supervision plan, pooling efforts from multiple parties to form an inspection team. During the inspection, the inspection team adhered to a problem-oriented and systematic approach, comprehensively covering multiple key dimensions including maintenance of safety-important systems and equipment, periodic tests, in-service inspections, technical modification projects, and handling of important abnormal events, deeply assessing the operation of the quality assurance system and the implementation of rules and regulations, strictly examining the technical basis for modifications, and tracking the closed-loop implementation of commitment items.

In the inspection summary feedback, the North China Supervision Station emphasized that the relevant units must clearly recognize the risks and challenges faced by the first reactor of its kind in terms of insufficient technical accumulation and lack of operation and maintenance experience, resolutely eliminate any mentality of taking chances, and always put nuclear safety in the foremost position. They must resolutely shoulder the primary responsibility for nuclear safety, ensuring that the responsibility chain is transmitted layer by layer without compromise; ensure the effective operation of the quality assurance system, achieving strong quality control throughout the entire process; systematically address various potential problems, fully drawing on lessons learned; strictly carry out problem rectification, achieving closed-loop management item by item; and strictly implement all criticality management regulations, thoroughly eliminating hidden dangers before reactor criticality.

Looking toward the grand blueprint of the "15th Five-Year Plan" development, the North China Supervision Station stated that it will continue to unswervingly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, steadfastly uphold the mission of nuclear and radiation safety supervision, and continuously refine the building of a disciplined supervisory team, forging a solid safety barrier for safeguarding the sustainable development of fourth-generation nuclear power and the high-quality operation of China's nuclear energy endeavor.