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Reuters

China has begun a nationwide safety inspection into all its existing nuclear facilities in the wake of last month’s deadly explosions at a chemical warehouse at the port of Tianjin last month that killed 173 people.
The inspections will last until November and will focus on the manufacturing and utilisation of nuclear equipment and technology, equipment used at uranium mines, and nuclear radiation risks, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said in a notice late on Monday.
READ MORE: China under fire in US Congress over proposed new nuclear deal
China is embarking on a rapid nuclear construction programme that aims to raise total capacity to 58 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2020, up from 23 GW at the end of July, and it also has ambitions to build its new reactor designs overseas.

GRAPHICS: Satellite images reveal scale of deadly warehouse explosion in Tianjin
Although none of China’s existing reactors has experienced any serious accidents, the country’s entire nuclear construction programme was suspended in 2011 following the Fukushima disaster in Japan.
A moratorium on new project approvals until early this year has put the 2020 target in doubt.
READ MORE: Japan restarts nuclear reactor four years after Fukushima disaster
After Fukushima, Beijing promised to adhere to the highest possible “third generation” safety standards in all new projects.
However, one high-profile third-generation project, the world’s first Westinghouse-designed AP1000 reactor in eastern coastal Zhejiang province, has been repeatedly delayed as a result of design flaws and tougher safety checks.
Chinese authorities said last Friday that they had ended the search for the remaining eight people still missing after the massive explosions in Tianjin on August 12.
Officials also set the final death toll in the nation’s worst industrial disaster in years at 173.
The announcement on the city government's microblog said there was no hope of finding the eight people, and the court would now start issuing death certificates.
“After thorough investigations by all parties, it is certain that there is no possibility of survivors,” said the statement, posted late on Friday night.
The eight include five firefighters, underscoring the explosion’s status as the worst ever disaster for mainland first responders, more than 100 of whom were killed, including police officers. A total of 104 firefighters died.
Investigations into the blasts at the Ruihai International Logistics warehouses showed they were located closer to homes than permitted, and stored much more hazardous material than authorised, including 700 tonnes of highly toxic sodium cyanide.
A series of massive explosions late at night shattered windows and tore facades off buildings, while launching debris including heavy steel storage canisters into nearby communities with the force of artillery shells.
Disgruntled homeowners have held numerous angry protests demanding the government buy back their flats.
 
 
 


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Beirut disaster another reminder on dangers of explosive materials

China safety boss sacked over Tianjin blasts jailed for corruption

China’s cabinet kicks off three-year review of handling of dangerous chemicals

Tianjin warehouse explosion 2015

China begins nationwide nuclear safety checks after deadly Tianjin explosions

Chinese workers leave the nuclear power plant in Qinshan, in Zhejiang province, which will be inspected as part of nationwide safety checks. Photo Reuters

Two satellite images, the first (left) taken on May 25 before the blasts, and the other from August 13, the day after the disaster. Photos: Skybox Imaging via Google

How China hopes to solve nuclear waste issue with hybrid fusion-fission reactor at top secret facility

One of China's nuclear power plants in Changchun in northeastern Jilin province. Photo: AP

China's proposed hybrid nuclear fusion-fission reactor could potentially burn nuclear waste. Photo: AFP

China under fire in US Congress over proposed new nuclear deal

Barack Obama wants to renew a 30-year deal. Photo: Reuters

The construction works for the Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project started in 2008. It  is the first project to be developed as part of the Sino-US high technology co-operation for introducing and transferring the third generation nuclear power technologies into China.

Japan restarts nuclear reactor four years after Fukushima disaster

 Workers in the main control room reactivate the No. 1 reactor at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Sendai nuclear plant. Photo: Kyodo

Protestors stage a sit-in in front of the Sendai nuclear plant. Photo: Kyodo

Mainland Chinese authorities end search for missing from massive Tianjin warehouse explosion

Authorities announced they will end the search for the remaining eight missing in the chemical warehouse explosion, setting the final death toll at 173. Photo: Xinhua

'Authorities should deliver an honest explanation': First comments by Tianjin’s ex-party boss - now current vice-premier - on disaster response

China's Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli speaks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum finance ministers' meeting in Beijing in October last year. Photo: Simon Song

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