China says nuclear stations safe from Y2K bug

Updated 2:11 AM ET October 17, 1999

BEIJING, Oct 17 (Reuters) - China's nuclear power stations and weapons systems are safe from the millennium bug, the China Daily reported on Sunday, citing a defence administration report.

"There will be no nuclear leaks or explosions caused by Y2K problems in our two operational nuclear power stations," said the report by the State Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

China has two atomic power stations in the provinces of Zhejiang and Guanggong. Another three are under construction and work on a fourth -- a joint project with Russia -- is scheduled to begin next week.

"We can ensure all facilities in the country's defence sector will be safe and reliable on January 1, 2000," the report said.

The defence sector also covers space, aviation and shipbuilding.

The newspaper quoted the report as saying that "existing weapons systems are basically immune from the effects of Y2K computer problems."

The millennium bug or Y2K problem is a programming glitch that could cause ill-prepared computers to mistake the new year 2000 for 1900, possibly shutting down the operations they control.

Last December the commission set up an office to deal with the millennium bug issue, the newspaper reported.

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Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), October 17, 1999