Vienna - China's
nuclear safety authorities need more funds and staff to keep pace with the country's rapidly expanding
nuclear energy sector, a panel of experts appointed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday.
The independent experts also called on China to further improve its legislation and policies related to nuclear safety, according to a statement by the Vienna-based IAEA.
The panel had been invited by the Beijing government to review the country's safety framework and completed its mission on Friday.
China operates 12
nuclear power reactors, is constructing 23 new ones and has plans for several more, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Because of this surge, the IAEA panel said the government should set up a comprehensive national strategy for dealing with nuclear waste.
The experts from 15 countries commended China for being committed to and for implementing international safety standards, and for the quality of its nuclear engineers.
