By The Financial District
Jun 16, 20212 min
China’s government said Tuesday that no abnormal radiation was detected outside a nuclear power plant near Hong Kong following a news report of a leak, while Hong Kong’s leader said her administration was closely watching the facility, Zen Soo and Joe McDonald reported for the Associated Press (AP).
The operators released few details, but nuclear experts said that based on their brief statement, gas might be leaking from fuel rods inside the reactor in Taishan, 135 kilometers (85 miles) west of Hong Kong.
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian gave no confirmation of a leak or other details and did not confirm a similar leak in April. He responded to reporters’ questions by saying, “there is nothing abnormal detected in the radiation level surrounding the plant.”
In Hong Kong, radiation levels Tuesday were normal, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. “With regard to foreign media reports about a nuclear plant in Taishan, Guangzhou, the Hong Kong government attaches a high degree of importance to this,” said Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
Framatome, a French company that helps manage the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province, said Monday it was dealing with a “performance issue.” It said the facility was operating within safe limits. That followed a report by CNN that Framatome told US authorities about a possible leak.
The Taishan plant, which began commercial operation in December 2018, is owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and Electricite de France (EDF), the majority owner of Framatome.
A second reactor began operating in September 2019. They are the first of a new type called European Pressurized Reactors. Two more are being built in Finland and France. CNN reported Framatome wrote to the US Department of Energy warning of an “imminent radiological threat” and accusing Chinese authorities of raising acceptable limits for radiation outside the plant to avoid having to shut it down.
Framatone uses technology licensed from the US firm Westinghouse for the Chinese reactors and these leaks could not be fixed without using technology licensed by the US, which has barred Chinese companies from using its nuclear, military, and high technology products and services.