CGN to train ASEAN nuclear professionals

China will train nuclear personnel from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries under an agreement signed yesterday between the ASEAN Centre for Energy and China General Nuclear (CGN).

China will train nuclear personnel from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries under an agreement signed yesterday between the ASEAN Centre for Energy and China General Nuclear (CGN).

The signing of the agreement (Image: CGN)

The cooperation agreement was signed by CGN deputy general manager Zheng Dongshan and ASEAN Centre for Energy director Sanjayan Velautham.

Under the agreement, CGN will work with ASEAN to carry out capacity-building activities for countries in the area with or planning nuclear energy programs, as well as to promote the establishment of a clean energy training centre.

The agreement was signed as a seven-day training course got under way at the Daya Bay nuclear power plant near Shenzhen, jointly organized by China's National Energy Board, CGN and ASEAN. More than 20 senior government officials in charge of nuclear power in nine ASEAN countries attended the course, according to CGN.

The company said it has already set up offices in Thailand, Vietnam and other ASEAN countries and is actively promoting cooperation in nuclear power and other energy sources.

CGN said that Thailand and Indonesia have already expressed an interest in its Hualong One nuclear reactor design. Thailand, it said, is currently carrying out an independent review of the Hualong One technology. The design, CGN anticipates, could make Thailand's short-list for possible deployment in any future nuclear power program. The company said Thailand also plans to send engineering and technical personnel to China for training on Hualong One technology.

Several Southeast Asian countries - including Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam - are considering the construction of nuclear power plants in order to meet their rapidly increasing electricity demand.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News