China’s recent push into nuclear energy has attracted little public attention, despite its massive implications for Chinese and global energy, environmental and security outcomes. China’s nuclear initiatives could mitigate the environmental impact of the voracious appetite for energy in China and other emerging economies. But in the post-Fukushima environment, the torrid pace of Chinese nuclear expansion raises important questions about quality, safety and nuclear security. At the same time, many industry incumbents are struggling - witness the re-organization of Areva (merged with EDF) and the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings of Westinghouse.
In this context, how can we benchmark China’s progress toward global leadership in this technically challenging and strategically important industry? Are China’s nuclear enterprises making progress in assimilating and creating world-class technologies and organizational capabilities? Can China’s regulatory system meet the technical and managerial challenges of a rapidly expanding and increasingly complex nuclear establishment?
This two-day conference, to be held on March 16-17, 2018, will assemble a multidisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners to address these questions and take stock of the global dynamics of this industry ten years after China selected Westinghouse’s AP1000 design as its central nuclear technology platform.
The Western Pennsylvania region and the University of Pittsburgh provide a natural setting for an international conference that will appraise the current scale, future prospects and global impact of China’s growing nuclear program. Western Pennsylvania is the home of the first commercial nuclear power facility; it also houses the world headquarters of Westinghouse Electric, whose Generation III reactor design forms the centerpiece of China’s current wave of nuclear plant construction. Within the University of Pittsburgh, the global nuclear industry is the subject of multi-pronged research initiatives that span the business, economics, engineering and public administration faculties.
AGENDA (subject to change)
Thursday March 15
5:00- 6:30pm Preconference session:
Presentations by current MBA students who are also employees of nuclear companies (China General Nuclear, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba)
Overview of US market and discussion of Westinghouse reorganization
Jean-Patrick Ducruet, Retired from Westinghouse as Director of Global Strategy, Nuclear Fuel
6:30pm Dinner
Friday March 16
F1. 9-10:30am Welcome, Conference overview, Keynote
Keynote – Mark Hibbs, Sr. Fellow, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
F2. 11am -12:30pm Global Market for Nuclear Power Today and Tomorrow: What is the current state of the nuclear power industry worldwide? What strategies are the various industry players pursuing as the industry grapples with an uncertain future?
Jean-Marc Capdevila, Nuclear Attache, Embassy of France
TBD
Moderator: Prof. Dan Cole
Lunchtime comments on China political economy and energy economy
Prof. Iza Ding
Prof. Tom Rawski
Prof. Kay Shimizu
F3. 2-3:30pm China Nuclear Industry Structure and Strategy: How is the Chinese nuclear industry structured? Who are the key players? What major regulatory, strategic and technological changes should we be on the lookout for? What challenges does the industry face?
Tim Collier, Collier International Business Concepts
Pete Lyons, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy (Retd.), Department of Energy
Moderator: Prof. Ravi Madhavan
F4. 4-5:30pm China Nuclear Supply Chain: How is the Chinese nuclear supply chain evolving? To what degree is it catching up with world standards in quality and safety? How much of a cost advantage, if any, does the Chinese supply chain enjoy? To what extent is the supply chain demonstrating the Quality Assurance and Control systems and Nuclear Safety practices commensurate with the pace of expansion?
Bruce Schlueter, Director, Welding & Machining Business Portfolio, Westinghouse
Balendra Sutharshan, COO, Energy and Global Security, Argonne National Labs
Han Zhou, Director of Asia Growth & Strategy, Westinghouse; Board Chair, SNWZH
Moderator: Patrick Ducruet
6:30pm Offsite Dinner at Lydia’s Pittsburgh
Saturday March 17
S1 9-10:30am China Nuclear Safety in Building and Operating Nuclear Plants: What do we know about Chinese safety practices in nuclear plant construction and operations? How well does the current institutional structure match the needs of an expanding and variegated nuclear sector? To what extent is safety culture taking root in the Chinese supply chain and in Chinese plants?
Tim Collier, Collier International Business Concepts
Mike Corletti, Director of New Plant Technologies and Licensing, Westinghouse
Han Zhou, Director of Asia Growth & Strategy, Westinghouse; Board Chair, SNWZH
Moderator: Prof. Kay Shimizu
S2 11am-12:30pm Looking ahead – New Developments in Technology and Markets: What new technologies are on the horizon? How are the markets evolving in response to these new technologies? Do these developments offer a chance for Chinese nuclear companies to seize leadership?
Rita Baranwahl, Director, GAIN (Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear) - Idaho National Lab
Dan Lipman, Nuclear Energy Institute
Zach McDaniel, Manager, Nuclear Fuel Methods, Westinghouse
Moderator: Prof. Heng Ban
Lunch and concluding discussion
Moderator: Prof. Tom Rawski