French Co-Owner Of Chinese Nuclear Plant Wants It To Be Shut Down

A containment building at Taishan nuclear power plant. Photo: FactWire. 

CNN: Problems at China nuclear power plant are serious enough to warrant shutdown, French co-owner warns 

(CNN)The French power company that co-owns a nuclear plant in China would shut it down if it could, due to damage to the fuel rods, a spokesperson said -- but the decision is ultimately up to the plant's Chinese operator. 

The spokesperson for Electricite de France (EDF) said on Thursday that while it was "not an emergency situation" at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, located in China's southern Guangdong province, it was a "serious situation that is evolving." 

If the reactor was in France, the company would have shut it down already due to "the procedures and practices in terms of operating nuclear power plants in France," the spokesperson said.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: "France Would Have Shut It Down": Co-Owner On Faulty Nuclear Plant In China -- NDTV/AFP  

Update #2: EDF suggests China should halt nuclear reactor after problems -- Reuters  

WNU Editor: The Chinese power grid is already stressed. They are not going to shut down this plant.

Reports Say There Is An Ongoing Major Radiation Leak From A Nuclear Plant In Southern China

Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, in southern China, has been leaking radioactive gas for two weeks and is at risk of becoming a disaster, US intelligence agencies have privately warned 

 

Daily Mail: 'Leaking' Chinese nuclear power plant 'could spark disaster': American intelligence warns reactor has been pumping out radioactive gas for two weeks... but Beijing insists everything is normal 

* French energy firm that co-owns Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in southern China warned US intelligence two weeks ago that it was leaking radioactive gas 

* America has reviewed the situation and concluded it could turn into a disaster 

* But they believe situation is not yet at 'crisis level' and it may still be resolved 

* Chinese state firm which owns plant insisted Sunday that everything is 'normal' 

A Chinese nuclear power station is leaking radioactive gas and could become a major disaster, according to secret US intelligence reports. 

Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, located in southern Guangdong province, is thought to have been leaking for at least two weeks after a French firm that co-owns the facility flagged the issue to Washington. 

American agents have spent the last week monitoring the situation and have concluded it has the potential turn into a major disaster but that facility is not currently at 'crisis level'. 

That is in stark contrast to the message being put out by the power plant's Chinese state owners, who insisted in a report published Sunday that everything is 'normal'. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The Chinese are saying everything is normal .... China's nuclear power giant CGN dismisses reports of leak warning at a Guangdong facility, says indicators 'normal' (Global Times). The French operator is saying the same thing .... China’s Taishan nuclear plant ‘operating safely’, French firm says (SCMP). But this is very revealing. China is now inspecting all of its plants .... China launches nationwide safety checks after deadly blast in Hubei (SCMP). 

There is a lot of conflicting news on this story, and China is not being forthcoming. I suspect that everyone with a Geiger counter in the region is now monitoring the situation. 

More News On Reports That There Is A Major Leak At A Chinese Nuclear Plant  

Exclusive: US assessing reported leak at Chinese nuclear power facility -- CNN  

Company warns of 'imminent radiological threat' after Chinese nuclear plant leak: report -- The Hill 

Operator says China nuclear plant facing ‘performance issue’ -- AP  

Chinese nuclear power plant investigating 'increase of gases' at reactor -- NBC  

French nuclear firm trying to fix ‘performance issue’ at China plant -- The Guardian  

Buildup of inert gases at Chinese nuclear facility, French partner firm says after reports of US investigating possible leak -- RT