英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China’s ambition to sweep the world with nuclear technology concerning
中国の原発増設　世界を席巻する日が来るのか

We cannot afford to be unconcerned about China’s moves to accelerate construction of nuclear power plants. Is the safety of these facilities ensured?
　中国が原子力発電所の建設を加速している。安全性は確保されているのか。不安を拭えない。

According to the World Nuclear Association, 30 nuclear reactors are currently operating in China. Japan has 43, but as the restart of the nation’s idled reactors is lagging, China is effectively fourth on the list of nations with the most nuclear power plants − behind the United States, France and Russia.
　世界原子力協会によると、中国で運転中の原発は３０基に上る。４３基を有しながら再稼働が進まない日本を除くと、米国、フランス、ロシアに次ぎ、実質４位の原発国だ。

The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to further increase the number of nuclear power plants to cope with the nation’s serious air pollution, which stems from coal-fired power generation, and increasing energy demand.
　習近平政権は、さらなる増設を計画している。石炭火力発電に伴う深刻な大気汚染や、エネルギー需要の増大に対応するためだ。

According to local media reports, Beijing will build six to eight nuclear reactors annually in the next five years. By 2030, the number is set to reach 110, surpassing the 99 in the United States.
　現地の報道では、来年以降５年間は年６〜８基を増設し、２０３０年には、米国の９９基を上回る１１０基にまで増やす方針だ。

One major concern is that information about nuclear power plants in China is extremely limited.
　問題なのは、原発に関する情報が極めて少ないことだ。

China’s nuclear power operations began in 1994, and the number of nuclear reactors has increased rapidly since then.
　中国の原発は、１９９４年から運転を開始し、その後、急ピッチで増設が進んできた。

However, the details of regulatory standards are not disclosed − it is quite obscure what kind of safety measures China is currently taking. There are limited examples of the Chinese government officially disclosing troubles with the nation’s nuclear power plants to the public, such as leaks of radioactive material or mechanical problems caused by accidents.
　ただし、規制基準の詳細は公表されておらず、安全確保策の現状には不明な点が多い。放射能漏れや事故故障などのトラブルが公式に開示された例は少ない。

The less information available, the more concern there is. The Japanese government must reinforce its measures to collect information on China’s nuclear power plants.
　情報が乏しいと、不安は増幅する。日本政府は、情報収集を強化する必要がある。

Impact on Japan

Prevailing westerlies bring yellow sand and air pollutants to Japan from China. If serious nuclear accidents occur in China, there could be serious repercussions for Japan.
　中国からは、偏西風に乗って黄砂や大気汚染物質が飛来する。深刻な原発事故が起これば、日本に甚大な影響が及ぶ恐れがある。

It cannot be overlooked the fact that China’s nuclear power plants are concentrated in coastal areas. After the nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Beijing has put restrictions on the construction of nuclear power plants in inland areas. We assume Beijing is wary of the domestic impact from accidents if they occur inland.
　沿岸部に原発が偏在している現状は軽視できない。中国政府は、東京電力福島第一原発の事故以降、内陸部での原発建設を制限している。事故時に国内に影響が及ぶのを警戒しているのだろう。

China’s nuclear reactors rarely use technologies developed in the country − they are basically an amalgamation of technologies imported from European countries, the United States and Japan.
　元々、中国の原発は独自技術に乏しい。欧米や日本の技術を導入し、組み合わせたものだ。

Japan provides core parts, such as reactor pressure vessels.
日本は原子炉の圧力容器など、中核となる部品を供給している。

In recent years, China’s export drive on nuclear power plants has received worldwide attention. During his visit to Britain in October, Xi agreed with British Prime Minister David Cameron to build a Chinese Hualong One reactor, which is an improved version of a French reactor, in Britain.
　近年は輸出攻勢が目立つ。習国家主席が１０月に訪英した際には、仏の原子炉を改良した中国炉「華竜１号」を建設することで、キャメロン英首相と合意した。

Britain was once an advanced nuclear nation, but its technology declined after the nation stopped building new reactors. Under the current circumstances, it was unavoidable for Britain to rely on the technology of China, a nation that is rapidly gaining experience by building new reactors and has the advantage of cheap construction costs.
　英国はかつて、原発の先進国だったが、増設がストップし、技術力が衰退した。建設費が安く、増設で経験を積む中国に頼らざるを得なかったと言えよう。

Beijing is also constructing Hualong One reactors in Pakistan, and is seeking to launch a promotion drive in South American and African countries.
　中国はパキスタンでも、華竜１号を建設中だ。南米やアフリカ諸国にも売り込みを図っている。

However, we must point out that Hualong One is a model still under construction even in China itself. It is problematic that a model without sufficient operation records has begun sweeping the whole world.
　華竜１号は、おひざ元の中国でも建設の途上だ。運転実績のない原子炉が世界を席巻しつつある現状には、問題が多い。

For Japan, the export of nuclear power technologies is a pillar of the nation’s infrastructure export drive. It is crucial to further polish the nation’s technological capability and produce tangible results. We also urge the government to start discussions about constructing new reactors in Japan.
　日本にとっても、原発はインフラ輸出の柱の一つだ。技術力をさらに向上させ、実績を積み重ねることが重要である。国内での新増設も検討せねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 12, 2015)