From May 10, 2001 to Feb. 4, 2004 a thousand days passed and China's first independently designed, built and operated nuclear power station - Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant operated safely with no unplanned shutdowns. It has set up a new safe operation record for prototype nuclear power plants.

According to an official at China National Nuclear Corporation, following international practice the assessment was conducted with regard to three aspects - personnel, equipment and system. It requires no unplanned shutdown accidents, no serious personnel injury and above mentioned accidents and no major breakdown of the system and equipment caused by personnel. Up to now Qinshan NPP has established and perfected 10 management outlines regarding quality guarantee, radiation protection and environment monitoring etc. It has drawn up corresponding management systems and procedures. It has formed a management network constituting of management outlines and more than 200 rules and regulations.

Qinshan NPP, located in Hangzhou Bay of Zhejiang Province, is a 300 MW pressurized water reactor, which made its first contribution to electricity grid in December 1991. Three years later it was commercially operated. Its existence and production put an end to the history when mainland China had no nuclear power plant of its own and made China the 7th country (after US, UK, France, former USSR, Canada and Sweden) who could independently design and build nuclear power plant. Since making the first electricity contribution Qinshan NPP has supplied 21 billion KWH of electricity. It has provided a strong support for the economic development of Zhejiang and created good social effects and economic returns.

(People's Daily February 8, 2004)