Guangdong and Macao hold a meeting to discuss further bilateral cooperation and support on nuclear safety issues.
Macao and Guangdong have signed an agreement to enhance communication in the event of any incident relating to nuclear power generation.
It is also as part of Macao’s effort to strengthen further its response measures regarding any unforeseen, adverse events.
The likelihood of any unscheduled events relating to nuclear power occurring adjacent to Macao is extremely low. The two sides nonetheless deem it necessary to establish an ongoing mechanism for emergency cooperation, in order to cope with either any unscheduled event occurring in the nuclear facility at Taishan Prefecture in Guangdong or in nuclear facilities of neighbouring cities.
The “Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Consensus in Case of a Guangdong Nuclear Power Plant Emergency” was signed on Monday (8 January) in Zhuhai. The signing was witnessed by the Secretary for Security of the Macao SAR, Mr Wong Sio Chak, and the Deputy Director General of the National Nuclear Emergency Response Office, Mr Yao Bin, who is also the head of the nuclear emergency and security division under the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
Under the agreement, Guangdong is to notify Macao of any unscheduled event – whether classified under an internationally-recognised, seven-level scale, or under the nation’s four-level grading for nuclear emergency – occurring in any functioning nuclear plants located in Guangdong Province.
Guangdong and Macao are to organise, in turn, an annual meeting to review nuclear emergency measures and off-site emergency planning, as well as training sessions relating to technical issues, according to the agreement.
Prior to the signing ceremony, the two sides held a meeting to discuss response plans in the event of nuclear emergency, and a system for bilateral support were such contingency measures required.
The Government has always closely monitored nuclear safety matters relating to neighbouring areas and has prepared relevant emergency response schemes. The “Emergency Response Scheme for Nuclear Facilities in Neighbouring Cities” is formulated in line with guidelines endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and safety standards defined in the country.
Monday’s meeting comprised representatives from: the National Nuclear Safety Administration; the Prevention and Emergency Administrative Commission Office of Guangdong Province for Nuclear Accident of Civil Nuclear Facility; and the JointTaskGroup for Nuclear Safety of Macao.
