China to spend $ 23 mn on nuclear safety

Shanghai: China will spend 150 million yuan ($23 million) this year on nuclear safety, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday, as concerns mount globally over the sector following the crisis in Japan.

Last year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection ministry's budgetary report did not include any nuclear safety projects, Xinhua said.

The ministry will spend the money on monitoring radiation nationwide, reassessing technology at nuclear facilities and supervising privately-run plants.

China to spend $ 23 mn on nuclear safety

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday countries using nuclear energy must ensure their reactors are built to withstand multiple disasters after Japan's accident revealed gaps in safety standards.

More than 70,000 people living near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have been forced to evacuate following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that smashed the plant and caused radiation leaks.

Engineers are still battling to bring the situation under control. The Japanese government has said the evacuation was likely to continue at least until the end of the year.

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