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China shuts nuclear reactor at Taishan plant over ‘minor fuel damage’
- Chinese operator says reactor taken offline for maintenance and to replace damaged fuel
- Operations under control and safety maintained throughout, CGN says
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A reactor at a nuclear plant in southern China was shut down for “maintenance” due to minor fuel damage, the operator said on Friday, after an increase in radioactivity levels previously sparked fears of a leak.
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.
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“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, adding that “a small amount of fuel damage” occurred during the operation of the reactor.
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CGN said that both units of the plant had “maintained safe and stable operations throughout” and the faulty reactor was “completely under control”.
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