China Nuclear Reactor Shut Down For "Maintenance", Says Operator NDTV, 30 July 21
Beijing:
A reactor at a nuclear plant in southern China has been shut down because it is damaged, the operator said Friday, but it insisted there were no major safety issues.
China General Nuclear Power Group said both reactors at the plant have "maintained safe and stable operations throughout" and that the faulty unit is "completely under control".
Chinese authorities last month blamed minor fuel rod damage for a build-up of radioactive gases at the Taishan plant in Guangdong province, describing it as a "common phenomenon" with no need for concern.
French nuclear firm Framatome, which helps operate the plant, last month reported a "performance issue" which caused the US government to look into the possibility of a leak.
"After lengthy conversations between French and Chinese technical personnel, Taishan Nuclear Power Plant... decided to shut down Unit 1 for maintenance," China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) said Friday in an online statement.
French energy giant EDF -- the majority owner of Framatome -- also previously blamed the build-up of radioactive gases on deteriorating coating on some uranium fuel rods.
EDF said it was first informed about the fuel rod problem in October, but only learned about the gas build-up in mid-June..........
based on earlier data provided by Chinese officials, the deterioration of the structural integrity of some fuel rods "appears to be continuing, and is being permanently monitored", the firm added.
The problem is the latest blow to the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) design, which is being used to build power plants in France, Britain and Finland that have racked up delays and billions of euros in cost overruns. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-nuclear-reactor-shut-down-for-maintenance-says-operator-2498717
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