The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 479 Opposition and Support
Liu Hua is researching flash refining technology, which uses a nozzle to spray out extremely fine iron ore powder, and then uses electric heating to melt the iron ore instantly at high temperature, separating the iron. The whole process only takes a few seconds.

This was absolutely a huge step forward in the history of human iron smelting.

However, the downside is that this technology requires a lot of electricity, and in thirty years, electricity may not be a big problem.

However, even in this area right under the emperor's nose, power outages still occur frequently, making this technology seem somewhat outdated.

It is precisely because of this that Liu Hua wants to build a nuclear power plant belonging to the steel plant, and it is also because Liu Hua has this technology and it is extremely safe.

Otherwise, Liu Hua would never have dared to propose building a nuclear power plant in Tangshan, which would be like sitting on a volcano.

Thorium-based molten salt reactors are so safe that nuclear leakage is virtually impossible, which is why Liu Hua requested that his superiors consider the matter.

It was precisely because this technology was extremely safe that the higher-ups actually considered it, and after a collective vote, Liu Hua finally got his wish.

The leaders of TS City are going crazy. They've only been rebuilding for a little over a decade, and now they want to build a nuclear power plant right next to them. Isn't that like planting a time bomb right next to their own bed?

They strongly protested the construction of a nuclear power plant in Tangshan, even going so far as to travel to the provincial capital to confront the leaders.

"What's the use of you yelling and glaring at me? Do you think I don't know that Tangshan is located at the intersection of several earthquake zones? Do you think I don't know the dangers involved? I only agreed after I argued with my superiors."

The provincial leader pushed up his glasses: "Without investigation or research, you just rashly oppose it. Do you have any sense of seeking truth from facts? Do you even know what kind of nuclear power plant you're building?"

The provincial leader took a document out of his desk drawer and slammed it on the table: "Read it yourself, right here. After you're done, report your thoughts and feelings to me."

After carefully reading the document, the city leaders suddenly realized why they had allowed the nuclear power plant to be built in such a dangerous place.

"Now you understand the leader's considerations, right?" The provincial leader said with a smile, "It's because it's very safe, and Academician Liu also said that a response mechanism will be designed based on the actual situation. There is absolutely no chance of a nuclear leak."

The provincial leader pointed at his subordinate and said, "You've struck gold, do you know that? Once such a nuclear reactor is successfully built in your area, your electricity supply will no longer be a problem. You've just decided to develop the steel industry, and electricity has been a problem. Now Academician Liu has solved it for you. You should be burning incense in gratitude."

The nuclear reactor designed by Liu Hua himself this time is based on the scenario of frequent earthquakes. Once an earthquake of a certain magnitude occurs, the nuclear reactor will immediately stop working, with multiple protections to ensure absolute safety.

Two days later, Liu Hua received a call from TS City. Their city leaders wanted to talk to Liu Hua about the construction of the nuclear power plant.

"Academician Liu, I've heard so much about you." The city leader said with a smile, "I just found out that you're the mastermind behind that large steel plant that's being built in our city."

Liu Hua smiled and said, "How can you say I'm behind the scenes? I've always been in the spotlight, I just haven't been here much."

"Your idea of ​​building a nuclear power plant in Tangshan gave me quite a fright." The city leader chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Please don't laugh at my ignorance; I genuinely didn't know there were such safe nuclear reactors in the world. We've learned a lot about Chernobyl." "After all, it's a different field than yours. Your concern shows you're very responsible officials, and I believe Tangshan will get better and better under your governance."

"It's all for the people." The city leader said modestly, "We have selected a site for your nuclear power plant. Although it is a safe nuclear power plant, it is still a high-voltage area, so I think it should be far away from people."

Liu Hua nodded: "Very scientific. The electricity generated by the nuclear power plant is more than our plant can use. Some of it will be connected to the grid for use in the city."

"That's great! People's lives have improved, and they have more and more household appliances, but our power supply can't keep up. There are power outages every few days, and the power supply bureau is being criticized by the people. With the nuclear power plant supplying power, things are much more stable now."

Another leader nodded: "When the time comes, the power supply bureau will buy back all the electricity you transmit. You will definitely not suffer any losses."

People from Tangshan discovered that construction had begun on a remote plot of land in the suburbs, so they inquired whether it was a new development zone so they could find work there.

The news of the nuclear power plant construction quickly spread among the public, causing a wave of panic.

The leaders of TS City acted decisively, starting a science popularization program on the city's television station, and even inviting Liu Hua to explain the safety of the nuclear power plant to the citizens.

You need to understand that at that time, many people doubted our scientific research capabilities. Some people were simply blindly worshipping foreign things. It's not that they didn't love this country, but they were misled by many biased media outlets.

Even though most people believed it, they remained skeptical, so Liu Hua dropped a bombshell.

"Back then, the nuclear power groups of the United States and France wanted to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to buy my technology, but I refused without hesitation. This is not a lie, you can check it."

Someone actually checked, and it turned out to be true. With this little story as a basis, most people believed it.

It may be sad, but that's the truth.

Tangshan's city leaders seized the opportunity and held a press conference on their television station for all citizens.

"Dear fellow citizens of Tangshan, please don't worry. The safety of this nuclear power plant is guaranteed. Although this nuclear power plant was built for the steel plant in the industrial zone, the steel plant will not use up all of this electricity. A considerable portion will also be supplied to the people of our TS city area. In other words, from the day the nuclear power plant is put into operation, it will be difficult for you to experience power outages again. You can stay at home and use your household appliances with peace of mind. I guarantee that you won't be unable to even turn on your electric fan in the middle of summer."

The people of Tangshan were thrilled; how wonderful it would be to live without power outages!

Now, they're starting to urge Liu Hua to build the nuclear power plant as soon as possible.

Liu Hua urgently began transferring people from the Northwest region to this area. In the past two years, seven or eight hundred people have been trained in this field. This is a good opportunity to let them take charge. In the future, these people will be the backbone of thorium-based molten salt reactor nuclear power plants across the country.

(End of this chapter)