Nuclear Regulatory Commission nuclear export to China

NRC ISSUES LICENSES ALLOWING WESTINGHOUSE TO EXPORT NUCLEAR REACTOR EQUIPMENT AND FUEL TO CHINA

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a license authorizing Westinghouse Electric Co. to export to China the reactor systems, components and associated equipment and engineering services to build and operate as many as two pressurized water nuclear reactors at the San Men site and two at the Yang Jiang site. A second license was also issued, authorizing Westinghouse to export enough low-enriched uranium fuel to be used in the initial core and in one refueling for each reactor.

Westinghouse submitted the application for the license to export the reactors on Feb. 25, 2004, and the application for the fuel export license on August 26, 2004. Should China accept Westinghouse’s bid for constructing the plants, shipments of the reactor systems and components are expected to begin around mid-2007.

After carefully reviewing the applications and associated information, the NRC concluded that approving these exports to China will not be adverse to the common defense and security. The NRC also agreed with the conclusions reached by interested Executive Branch agencies that approving these exports is fully consistent with U.S. legal requirements.

NRC NEWSU.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov, nrc.gov/ No. 05-037 February 25, 2005