Triumphs of China's nuclear industry highlighted at safety event

At an event on nuclear safety in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Friday, Dong Baotong, vice-minister of ecology and environment, disclosed that the country's nuclear power capacity and electricity output last year stood at about five times that of 2012's figures. This, in addition to the number of operational nuclear power units across China quadrupling since 2012, reflects the remarkable achievements of the country's nuclear industry.

The event falls under the country's National Security Education Day, observed annually on April 15 to raise public awareness of national security issues and encourage greater civic involvement in safeguarding the country.

Dong, also head of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, continued by highlighting the country's notably strong record in nuclear and radiation safety. In 2025, an Integrated Regulatory Review Service team from the International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a 12-day mission in China, which covered a full-scope review of all nuclear facilities, activities, and exposure situations in the country.

Multiple Chinese practices were identified as good practices and shared worldwide during the review and the country's compliance with international nuclear safety conventions, according to Dong.

"The safety performance of China's operational nuclear power units has consistently remained at world-leading levels," he said.