Although China has stepped up staff training, it still faces a
serious shortage of manpower to carry out its ambitious plan to
develop its nuclear industry, according to a Chinese nuclear
expert.
"The number of current staff is far below the demand of the
nuclear industry, especially the nuclear power industry," said Kang
Rixin, General Manager of China National Nuclear Corporation.
China plans to expand its installed nuclear power generating
capacity to 40 million kilowatts by 2020, a hefty rise from the
current 8.7 million kilowatts, to meet surging energy demand and
ease environmental pollution from coal-fired power plants.
"China will experience rapid development of its nuclear industry
in the next 10 years," said Kang.
He called on more people to join the ranks and asked colleges
and universities to attach more importance to training nuclear
technicians, adding that only more than 100,000 people are
currently working in China's nuclear industry.
The company has signed a series of agreements with prestigious
Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao
Tong University and Harbin Engineering University, to jointly train
nuclear technicians.
(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2006)