On April 28, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the National Commendation Conference for Model Workers and Advanced Workers was grandly held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Yao Xueliang, a 2000 alumnus of the college and Chief Engineer of Shanghai Apollo Machinery Co., Ltd., was awarded the title of National Model Worker.

Yao Xueliang has been deeply involved in the development of major nuclear power equipment for 18 years, leading his team to overcome multiple “bottleneck” technologies. In the field of nuclear power, he has been extensively involved in the development of key pumps for million-kilowatt nuclear power plants, including auxiliary feedwater steam pumps, auxiliary feedwater electric pumps, main feedwater pumps, charging pumps, and TEG exhaust gas compressor units. He also participated in the development of the sodium pumps for the second loop of fast reactors, making significant contributions to breakthroughs in fast reactor technology. In the LNG industry, Yao Xueliang led the development of low-temperature liquid cargo pumps for LNG carriers, deeply participating in the development of LNG cryogenic test rigs as well as high-pressure export pumps and low-pressure tank pumps for LNG receiving stations. He successfully achieved the first domestic application of low-temperature liquid cargo pumps for LNG carriers, breaking the foreign technology blockade. Currently, as the project leader under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Yao Xueliang is developing and localizing high-grade cryogenic equipment for large LNG carriers (174,000 cubic meters and above), including low-temperature liquid cargo pumps.

The title of National Model Worker is an honor awarded by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council to individuals who have made significant contributions to socialist construction. It is conferred once every five years. Nominations focus on grassroots levels, frontline workers, and ordinary laborers, giving priority to industrial workers and emphasizing key sectors. This year marks the 17th National Model Worker Commendation Conference since the founding of the Party and the nation, and it is the first national model worker recognition held after the CPC’s 20th National Congress proposed the central tasks for the new era and new journey. National Model Workers and Advanced Workers serve as models for the people and pillars of the nation. Generations of model workers and advanced workers have played leading roles in promoting career development and advancing the times.

(Energy and Power Engineering College)