Zhang Kelin: The nuclear power industry is unstoppable

"The nuclear power industry has a bearing on the overall situation and its development is unstoppable." This was highlighted by Zhang Kelin, executive vice president of the China Federation of Machinery Industry, when interviewed by reporters yesterday.

Zhang Kelin hosted the opening ceremony of the 2012 China International Nuclear Power Equipment Exhibition in Beijing on the 29th.

Zhang Kelin said that since the second half of last year, the machinery industry has been facing a severe situation, and the industry has generally experienced a slowdown in growth rates and a drop in profits. This severe situation has also had an impact on the nuclear equipment industry. Many businesses face difficulties. However, it is worth noting that although the aftermath of the Fukushima incident has not been resolved and the economic situation at home and abroad is severe, since the second half of last year, relevant government departments are still actively planning to do so. At the end of May this year, the report on the National Comprehensive Inspection of Civil Nuclear Facilities Safety, the Twelfth Five-Year Plan for Nuclear Safety and Prevention of Radioactive Pollution and the Vision for 2020, the Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for Nuclear Power in 2020, and Nuclear Power "Safety Plan" and other four reports were submitted to the State Council's executive meeting. The first two have been passed, and the last two have also been approved by the State Council's executive meeting. The nuclear power project is expected to restart.

Zhang Kelin believes that future nuclear power projects will put forward higher requirements for nuclear power equipment and technology in aspects such as safety. It has been one and a half years since the State Council suspended the approval of nuclear power projects in March last year. This is precisely the period we have come to reflect on and work hard. Before it rains, we need to take care of it. Nuclear power equipment enterprises have only laid a solid foundation for breakthroughs in high-end technologies, so they can seize the strategic opportunity for the next wave of nuclear power projects to restart and take advantage of the situation.

Zhang Kelin said that the nuclear power industry is not only a high-tech industry that is technologically intensive, but also an industry that is related to the safety of the country and the happiness of the people. In the past decades, we have focused on the development of nuclear power equipment and technology in China; now, we must pay more attention to the relationship between this industry, society, and the public, so that more people can understand the nuclear power industry and support the nuclear power industry. It is also the key to the continued development of the nuclear power industry.

Zhang Kelin said that the 2012 China International Nuclear Power Equipment Exhibition is being held here today. On the one hand, he hopes to use this platform to pool strength, boost confidence, and promote industrial development through technological exchanges and information communication; on the other hand, he also hopes to use this platform. The distance between the nuclear power industry and the society will be brought closer so that the public can understand the development of nuclear power technology and create a good atmosphere and space for the development of the nuclear power industry. I believe that our nuclear power industry, with the joint efforts of all, will surely make greater contributions to our national economy.

On the afternoon of the 29th, the exhibition also held the China Nuclear Power Sustainable Development Summit Forum. A number of academicians on the forum believe that China’s nuclear power project is expected to restart in December this year.