A team of international atomic energy experts conducting a SALTO (Safety Aspects of Long Term Operations) review at the Qinshan Unit 1 nuclear power plant in China has concluded that the plant's operators had made significant progress on ageing management for the unit that was made operational in 1991.
Experts from Argentina, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that the plant operators had made improvements on ageing management, but could still make improvements on a comprehensive environmental qualification program and management programs for aging civil structures associated with the plant.
The experts noted exceptional plant practices, including an organizational structure to support preparation for safe long term operations, a comprehensive leak rate testing and containment program involving valve isolation, and “revaluation of time-limited ageing analyses of mechanical components,” the IAEA announced Thursday.
The review, which is to be re-visited in two year's time, was conducted at the request of the Nuclear Power Operations Management Co., a division of China National Nuclear Power Co. Of note, the design of the plant has an original operational life expectancy of 30 years. The plant's license is due to end in 2021. However, operators intend to extend Qinshan's operational life to 50 years and applied for a license extention in 2016.
In China, the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) requires a Periodic Safety Review every 10 years, the IAEA noted.