China has started trial operations of a nuclear emergency response system that allows for real-time monitoring of the country's nuclear power plants, said a government official on Friday.

The new system, headquartered in the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, will provide information about radiation levels in nuclear power plants, and automatically detect alarms and report emergencies to the plants and the provinces, said Chao Zhexiong, an official of the national nuclear accident emergency management office.

The system can also be extend to overseas organizations and public websites in case of emergencies.

He said the system has been linked with the emergency response systems of China's three major nuclear power bases, which are in Qinshan of Zhejiang Province, Daya Bay of Guangdong Province and Tianwan of Jiangsu Province, and the provincial nuclear emergency offices.

The second phase of the system, which is still under construction, will connect the provincial emergency offices with that of the central government, according to Chao.

China has maintained a good safety record at its 11 nuclear power generating units, three of which are at Qinshan nuclear power plant, two at Daya Bay, four at Tianwan and two at Ling'ao nuclear power plant near Daya Bay.

China's present installed capacity of nuclear power plants is less than nine million kilowatts, about one percent of all its power generating capacity. It will be increased to 40 million kilowatts by 2020.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2007)