Dismiss Concerns Over Nuclear Reactor Leaks, China: No Sign Of Abnormality

JAKARTA - Chinese authorities on Tuesday, June 15 said radiation levels around the Taishan nuclear power plant in Guangdong Province remained normal, following media reports of a leak in one of its reactors.

French power company EDF, a co-owner of the power plant, told media it was investigating abnormal levels of radioactive gas leaking from the plant on Monday.

CNN reported that Framatome, the EDF unit that designed the Taishan reactor, warned of an imminent radiological threat to the project, following the build-up of krypton and xenon.

Dismissing the circulating concerns, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said in a press statement that the project fully complies with all requirements and there are no signs of abnormality in the vicinity.

"So far China's nuclear power plants have maintained a good operating record, with no incidents affecting the environment and public health", Zhao said.

Meanwhile, US-based Chinese nuclear scientist Li Ning said the danger in Taishan had been exaggerated.

"Because nuclear power plants, once built and operational, are under very strict control and local areas are excluded from further development, background radiation levels around them can often be lower than historical levels", Zhao said.

The EDF on Monday said the problem at the plant may have been caused by the fuel rods supplied by Framatome.

“Under normal operating conditions, it is true that some gases such as krypton and xenon will escape and be detected. But in this case, the concentration is much higher, so something is going on," said Tatsujiro Suzuki, former vice chairman of Japan's Atomic Energy Commission.

"Once radioactive gas leaks into the environment, it's a serious problem. It could get worse. I think there might be a problem with the fuel. This is unusual."

The Taishan project, completed in 2019, consists of two French-designed reactors and is located about 200 km (124 miles) from Hong Kong.

Earlier, French power company EDF announced Monday that it began examining potential problems related to the buildup of inert gas at its nuclear power plant in China, although the company and its Chinese partners said the plant was operating safely.

The EDF said the buildup of the noble gases krypton and xenon, which it said had affected the main circuit of the No.1 reactor of the Taishan plant, was a 'known phenomenon, studied and regulated in the reactor operating procedures'.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was in contact with Chinese authorities regarding this matter. They also said they had no indication that a radiological incident was taking place.

To note, the Taishan reactor is the first French-designed Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR) in operation. This technology is also being used in France, Finland and at the Hinkley Point C project, UK.

Electricity from the plant serves the Guangzhou and Shenzhen regions, the main manufacturing hubs of Guangdong province, which have faced power shortages in recent weeks due to hot weather and lower-than-normal hydropower supplies from neighboring Yunnan province.