Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian denied on Tuesday a recent report of problems at Taishan nuclear power plant in Guangdong Province. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI |
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June 15 (UPI) -- China denied issues, including a gas leak at a nuclear power plant in Guangdong Province, after a recent report suggested that a company involved in operations warned of an "imminent radiological threat."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday that China is satisfied with the situation at Taishan nuclear power plant, and that the plant "performs to the requirements of the technical specifications with a normal level of environmental radiation in the surrounding areas."
Safety is guaranteed, Zhao said.
"So far, China's nuclear power plants have kept a good operating record with zero occurrence of incidents affecting the environment and public health," the spokesman added.
Zhao's comments come after CNN reported Monday that a French co-owner of the plant, Framatome, had warned the United States about a threat June 8.
The Taishan plant published a statement Sunday describing conditions as "normal" but that one of two nuclear reactors had undergone an "overhaul" and was "successfully connected to grid" Thursday.
"Since it was put into commercial operation, the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant has strictly controlled the operation of the units in accordance with operating license documents and technical procedures," Chinese authorities at the plant said.
"All operating indicators of the two units have met the requirements of nuclear safety regulations and power plant technical specifications."
Framatome has said the company is "supporting the resolution of a performance issue" at Taishan.
French utility company Électricité de France, Framatome's parent company, recently said that it was aware of an increased concentration of noble gases in the primary circuit at the No. 1 reactor at Taishan, according to CNN.
EDF subsequently called for an extraordinary board meeting with Chinese managers, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday.
The Taishan Nuclear Power Joint Venture Co. is a joint venture between state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group and EDF, which owns 30%, according to the report.
