French nuclear firm assessing perceived leak at Chinese plant

A French nuclear firm said Monday it was working to resolve a “performance issue” at a plant it part-owns in China’s southern Guangdong province following a US media report of a potential leak there.   

CNN reported earlier that the US government is assessing a report of a leak at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant after the French company, Framatome, warned of an “imminent radiological threat”.   

Framatome -- a subsidiary of French energy giant EDF -- said in a statement to AFP that it is “supporting resolution of a performance issue” at the plant.   

 “According to the data available, the plant is operating within the safety parameters,” the
company said.   

EDF later said that there was an “increase in the concentration of certain noble gases in the primary circuit of reactor no. 1”, referring to a part of the reactor’s cooling system.   

Noble gases are elements like argon, helium and neon which have low chemical reactivity.   

Their presence in the system “is a known phenomenon, studied and provided for in the reactor operating procedures,” EDF said.   

The firm added that it had requested an extraordinary meeting of the power plant’s board “for management to present all the data and the necessary decisions”.   

Citing a letter from Framatome to the US energy department, CNN said the warning included an accusation that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation outside the facility in order to avoid having to shut it down. 
BEIJING, (AFP)
June14, 2021