[ad_1]
EDF, a public company backed by the French state, has said it wants to hold a regular meeting of its nuclear joint venture in southern China after reporting a possible radiation leak.
In a statement on Monday, EDF reported that it had learned of “an increase in the concentration of certain noble gases in the first reactor at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant,” a majority held by China’s General Nuclear Power Corp. Noble gases they are inert gases such as helium, xenon and radon.
He added that these increases are “known phenomena, phenomena that are studied and predicted in the operating procedures of the reactors”, but said that he calls the extraordinary board of directors to study all available data.
In a statement posted on its website on Sunday night, Taishan Nuclear Power Plant said its two reactors are operating normally. “The [plant’s] environmental indicators and the environment is normal, ”the plant said.
The plant’s second reactor added that the recently planned renovation was completed and reconnected to the power grid on June 10.
Taishan is 70 percent owned by CGN, and the rest is owned by EDF. It is the first nuclear power plant in Europe to operate a pressure reactor – a Franco-German technology that has overcome delays and costs for two decades.
The first reactor at the Taishan plant began commercial operations in December 2018, and the second reactor was launched in September 2019.
Taishan, a population of 1 m, is located about 75 km west of the Pearl River Delta, the most populous place in the southern province of Guangdong. It is located 140 kilometers from central Hong Kong.
CGN and EDF are also collaborating on a UK EPR nuclear power plant under construction at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
Citing unidentified sources and documents, CNN reported on Monday that the Framatome EDF unit had recently reported to the U.S. government an “immediate radiological threat to the site and people.”
“Framatome is resolving a performance issue with the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant,” Framatom said in a statement on Monday, adding that “according to available data, the plant is operating within safety parameters.”
The French government is following the situation, according to officials.
CNN said President Joe Biden’s National Security Council was monitoring the situation, but still did not believe it had reached a “crisis level.”
CGN declined to comment. The Taishan municipal government and China’s National Nuclear Safety Administration were not immediately available for comment on Monday, China’s holiday.
Nuclear power is key to President Xi Jinping’s great ambition environmental goals, including achieving a net carbon dioxide emission by 2060.
About 50 nuclear reactors are operating in China, about 5% of total energy generation.
Additional report by Qianer Liu in Shenzhen
[ad_2]
Source link
