A leak at a nuclear power plant in the Canton region of China is undergoing an exhaustive analysis in the face of an “imminent radiological threat”, according to Framatome, co-owner of this company. Thus, the Chinese authorities are monitoring the environmental data of the Taishan nuclear power plant, after Framatome reported the incident.
Faced with this ” alarming ” event after the notification of the French company, the administration chaired by Joe Biden believes that the facility is not yet at a “crisis level”.
Framatome has accused the Chinese authorities of increasing the maximum acceptable radiation to avoid the closure of the plant, as reported by the US network CNN.
However, the US authorities cited by the agency consider that there has not been a serious crisis and that for the moment only observation is necessary, since they consider that no real danger has been detected for the workers of the plant or the residents of the area. Washington has opened a line of communication with the Government of China and France to follow up.
On the other hand, the North American authorities had the first news of the leak when Framatome contacted asking for collaboration on June 8 , an unusual event since the central has not confirmed the leak for the moment.
The company that manages the plant, China General Nuclear Electric Group (CGN) , reported on Monday that the environmental readings of the plant and its surroundings are “normal” and that they are being measured at regular intervals. Framatome has also published that the reactor is operating within conventional parameters.
The Framatome parent, EDF, has however confirmed an increase in the levels of rare gases in the reactor area, which is considered normal. These gases are not dangerous, according to EDF.
The presence of these gases is often an indication of deterioration of the reactor fuel tank covers.
The Taishan plant is located 40 kilometers from the city of the same name, in southern China. The two reactors at the plant have been in operation since 2018 and 2019.
