There are problems with fuel rods in a nuclear power plant in China. A possible leak is denied by the nuclear regulator.
Beijing – Almost 35 years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, people’s fear of further breakdowns in nuclear power plants can still be clearly felt. The question now arises what a security incident in China that became known a few days ago through a report by the US news broadcaster CNN. Accordingly, the US government under Joe Biden is following up on a possible leak in a nuclear power plant. There was also talk of an “imminent radiological threat”, but a “crisis point” had not yet been reached.
A new type of nuclear power plant is affected, which is basically considered to be particularly safe. The “European Pressurized Water Reactor” (EPR) was developed in France and built in a new design. The first two plants of this type are located south of Hong Kong on the coast of the Guangdong province, around 40 kilometers south of the metropolis of Taishan. The two EPRs were put into operation in 2018 and 2019 and supply, among other things, the most important special economic zone in the country, Shenzhen. The French nuclear company Framatome is involved.
Taishan nuclear power plant in China: Increased level of radioactivity
How is China reacting to the situation? Today, Thursday (June 17th, 2021) the nuclear regulator spoke up and described the CNN report, according to which the nuclear regulator is said to have allowed an increase in the limit value, to be “not true”. There could be no question of a leak in the Taishan nuclear power plant.
However, the nuclear safety authority admitted problems with fuel rods via the short message service Weibo. It is estimated that five of the 60,000 fuel rods are damaged, which means that there is an increased level of radioactivity in reactor 1, which is within permitted limits. Measurements outside the nuclear power plant had shown that all values were normal. “The operational safety of the nuclear power plant is guaranteed,” it said.
Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in China: How Serious is the Threat?
Nonetheless, the question arises as to how serious the threat actually is. An expert has now commented on this in the New York Times. It is not uncommon for new fuel rods in a nuclear reactor to suffer damage, said Najmedin Meshkati. According to the professor of nuclear safety at the American University of Southern California, it is less common for radioactive gases to accumulate in the water around the fuel rods to the point that it is necessary to check which amount is safe. However, Meshkati said there was probably no serious threat.
The Framatome parent EDF had announced that they had been informed of an increased noble gas concentration in the primary circuit in one of the reactors. It is known and planned that there are noble gases there at all. The increase indicates a possible deterioration in the fuel cladding. The amount is below the limit values. Framatome had also announced that the reactor was currently functioning in accordance with the applicable safety parameters. (cs with dpa)
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