Author:Gu Xinping

　　【CAEA Web news】Mr.Zhang Huazhu, Chairman of China Atomic Energy Authority(CAEA), met with Westinghouse Consortium headed by Mr.Jack Allen, Senior Vice President of Westinghouse Electric Company on January 13,2005.

　　Mr.Zhang pointed out, the ongoing bidding nuclear projects were vitally important to China since they might get involved with follow-up dozens of nuclear power reactors and significant investment valued over a hundred billion US dollar.The relevant department of Chinese government and enterprises were very cautious to make final decision and selection. We exchanged views and opinions on relevant issues in the scheduled bidding process of nuclear power projects. It would be beneficial to both sides.

　　Mr. Jack Allen said, President Bush of USA addressed recently that nuclear energy, as a clean energy, should be actively developed and utilized. It was a positive signal. In order to well prepare for Chinese projects, Westinghouse Consortium had established a Board of Directors consisting of six individuals, coming from three companies of Consortium. Four of them were present today. Mr.Bill Poirier served as the President of this new organization. The other responsible persons for individual program would be nominated soon in accordance with the development of projects. Mr. Allen briefed Mr.Zhang the difficulties which Consortium encountered in the bidding process and answered the questions raised by Mr.Zhang in terms of modulization and maturity of AP1000, way to overcome the insufficiency of Chinese manufacture capability and lack of modulized construction in the projects.

　　Mr.Griffith, Senior Vice President of Bechtel, companying Mr.Allen, expressed his appreciation on behalf of Bechtel for Mr.Zhang’s frank and cogent comments made on Bechtel’s previous performance in China. Bechtel had done a comprehensive analysis on the root cause of problems, he said, and assured that it would not happen again in the future.

　　As for the Government Assurance on nuclear export, Mr.Zhang said, China and USA had taken a flexible and agile method and finally reached consensus on a package government assurance on AP1000 export to China. The assurance letter had been delivered to US side. Mr.Zhang reiterated that China was a responsible country and its nuclear energy utilization was purely for peaceful purpose.