Abstract: This paper compares the annual collective dose of the nuclear power units of China National Nuclear Power Co, Ltd (CNNP) with the WANO best quarter and median value from 2012 to 2021. This paper also analyzes the maximum annual individual dose, average annual individual dose and interval distribution of individual dose of CNNP’s NPPs, and compares the average annual collective dose per reactor unit among different reactor types worldwide. Based on the brief analysis of the main tasks of radiation protection during NPPs operation, this paper draws the following conclusions: Implementing the ALARA principle is not to pursue the low collective dose without limitation; the collective dose cannot be regarded as the only index to evaluate the performance of radiation protection management in NPPs; and the absolute value of collective dose cannot be simply equivalent to the standard of radiation protection management performance of NPPs. For the radiation protection management of NPPs, radiation dose control, radiation contamination control and radioactive materials control should be placed at the same important position, not one-sided emphasis on any aspect.

Key words: nuclear power plant, radiation protection management, collective dose, individual dose