Nuke safety cooperation mechanism 'key issue'
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Experts in China and Europe pointed to the importance of setting up an international nuclear safety cooperation mechanism, due to be discussed at the upcoming G8 Summit in France.
"Nuclear safety is crucial and has been for some time - think about the loose nukes discussions that have been taking place for the past few decades," noted Leslie Vinjamuri, co-director of Center for the International Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Vinjamuri's comment came ahead of the G8 Summit to be held on Thursday and Friday in Deauville, France.
Nuclear safety will be one of the hottest issues at this summit after the crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in March following a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami.
The nuclear crisis sparked global concern about the viability of nuclear energy, and prompted some countries to carry out inspections of their atomic facilities.
An international mechanism for nuclear safety cooperation may be established at the G8 Summit, but the key issue is how the mechanism will be implemented, said Chen Xiaoqiu, a researcher at the nuclear and radiation safety center under China's Ministry of Environmental Protection.
However, what each country should do and how the countries should interact are issues that may take some time to deal with, Chen said.
Different political and economic interests are seen as the biggest obstacles to establishing such a mechanism, although there is actually the will to establish a portal for international communication, said Shao Beibei, an expert in nuclear studies with Tsinghua University.
"Based on the principle of benefit maximization, some entrepreneurs are likely to monopolize the core technologies, which is definitely not good for international cooperation in nuclear safety," Shao said.
Despite these difficulties, analysts called for the establishment of an international mechanism for cooperation in nuclear safety.
"Nuclear power may become an even more important source of energy in the future. But in view of the recent Japanese nuclear accident, there is recognition of the need to enhance safeguards in the design and operation of nuclear power plants," said Richard Caplan, director of the Center for International Studies at the University of Oxford.
The disaster at Fukushima highlighted issues such as the need for emergency plans for nuclear plants, improving standards for nuclear management and setting up nuclear regulation by a third party, said Shao.
With an international cooperation mechanism, countries can share technical knowledge and information in case of a nuclear accident and also avoid wasting resources during research, Chen said.
After the Fukushima disaster, criticism of nuclear energy increased around the world, with Germany suspending its plan to extend the life of the nation's nuclear plants.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said earlier that Japan would revisit plans to build 14 reactors by 2030.
