Qualification Management of Nuclear Equipment Suppliers: Analysis of China’s Unique Regime

In the context of climate change and energy crisis, nuclear energy, as a clean and low-carbon energy source, has embraced global development opportunities. In recent years, the nuclear power industry has witnessed rapid development, with continuous progress in nuclear power technology and an expanding scope of nuclear energy utilization, following which, the risks in the quality of nuclear facility equipment have been on the rise, and the requirements for the stability and reliability of the equipment supply chain have become more stringent. This paper summarizes the diverse regulatory approaches adopted by various countries regarding nuclear facility equipment suppliers and first sorts out four mainstream regulatory models: third-party organization assessment, quality system certification, operator internal control audit, and direct licensing by regulatory authorities. On this basis, it emphasizes the analysis of China’s unique licensing system led by the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), which covers four types of activities (design, manufacturing, installation, NDT) for nuclear safety mechanical and electrical equipment. Qualifications are granted through standardized processes such as application, technical review, and multi-level decision-making, with a clear 5-year validity period and invalidation scenarios specified for the license. The analysis shows that this system can improve bidding efficiency, enhance supply chain quality and stability, and impose effective penalties. Nevertheless, it has issues such as high consumption of regulatory resources, high requirements for personnel quality, and insufficient adaptability to new technologies. This study aims to provide references for nuclear countries to optimize the management of equipment suppliers and to promote the sustainable development of the global nuclear supply chain.