An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts observed that the operator of the San’ao Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in the People’s Republic of China demonstrated a commitment to its operational safety.
The 17-day Pre-Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) mission, which concluded 26 June, was conducted at the request of the Chinese Government to assess the plant’s safety prior to commercial operation.
Pre-OSART missions assess safety performance against?IAEA safety standards and advance operational safety through recommendations and suggestions. These are specifically designed to assess a plant before its first fuel loading.
San’ao NPP is located on the eastern coastline of China, about 90 km from Wenzhou and 35 km from Cangnan County. The plant is owned and operated by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). It is projected to be commercially operational in 2026 and currently employs approximately 1000 workers. CGN plans to construct six advanced nuclear units at San’ao NPP with a projected electrical capacity of 1000 MW(e) each. So far, two HPR1000 (pressurized water reactors) are under construction at the site. As of June 2025, China has 57 operational nuclear power reactors, as well as an additional 29 that are under construction. In 2024, China’s nuclear power fleet provided the country with 445.175 GWh of electricity, approximately 5% of China’s total electricity generation.
The 15-member team consisted of international experts from nine countries, together with three IAEA staff members.
“Constructing a large, modern nuclear power plant designed for 60 years of operation requires a sustained commitment to nuclear safety throughout its lifetime,” said team leader Yury Martynenko, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA. “The team has observed a strong commitment from plant management to assure safe and reliable operation of the plant.”
The review covered leadership and management for safety operations, maintenance, technical support, operating experience feedback, radiation protection, chemistry, emergency preparedness and response, accident management and commissioning. The review also covered training and qualification of operating personnel.
The team identified good performances that will be globally shared with the nuclear industry, including:
- Implementation of digitalized quality control systems into the plant’s operating practices;
- The use of a digital and AI radiographic film system technology for radiographic inspection; and
- Using an AI-supported start-up system during plant commissioning.
The mission made recommendations to improve operational safety, including:
- For plant leadership to minimize errors by training plant staff to effectively use performance tools to prevent mistakes and events from occurring;
- For the plant to fully formalize severe accident management guidelines, mobile equipment protocols, personnel training and facilities operations to ensure the successful implementation of all severe accident mitigation strategies; and
- To consistently comply with defined standards and documented safety requirements when staff is working near or on energized equipment and communicate expectations to workers during those occasions.
“In the past three weeks, the mission team and our plant employees worked together with the common goal of ensuring nuclear safety,” said Du Yanhui, General Manager of San’ao NPP. “Together, we achieved a successful Pre-OSART mission in an open and transparent manner. San’ao is committed to achieving continuous improvement, pursuing excellence in plant safety and reliability.”
The team provided a draft mission report to the plant’s management. They will have the opportunity to make factual comments on the draft. These comments will be reviewed by the IAEA, and the final report will be submitted to China within three months.
Background
General information about OSART missions can be found on the IAEA website. An OSART mission is designed as a review of programmes and activities essential to operational safety. It is not a regulatory inspection, nor is it a design review or a substitute for an exhaustive assessment of the plant’s overall safety status.
Follow-up missions are standard components of the OSART programme and are typically conducted within two years of the initial mission.
The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.