China: Announced damage to fuel rods at Taishan nuclear power plant: Radioactive noble gas
-Increased concentration of radioactive substances-
[Beijing Kyodo News]
Radioactive noble gas was released into the atmosphere from the Taishan nuclear power plant in Guangdong Province, China.
The problem occurred in the reactor of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1.
“Around 5 of the fuel rods” were damaged.
Ministry of Ecological Environment of China:
On June 16th, it was announced that the concentration of radioactive substances in the coolant had increased due to the damage to the fuel rods at the Taishan nuclear power plant.
For the first time, he admitted that a problem had arisen, pushed by international public opinion demanding information disclosure.
It emphasizes that it meets technical and safety standards.
China said, “We did not release the information until the overseas media pointed out.”
China has a nuclear power expansion route:
China is leaning towards expanding nuclear power, and concerns about uncertainties about management are likely to grow.
Kyodo news
https://nordot.app/777831463246741504
China Taishan plant: ‘Performance issue’ reported at nuclear facility
What went wrong at the plant?
EDF said
there was a build up of noble gases in part of the cooling system of the plant’s number one reactor.
The gases
were collected and treated before being released into the atmosphere in “accordance with regulations”.The Taishan plant
provides power for the Guangzhou and Shenzhen areas, both major manufacturing hubs.The unnamed spokesman told AFP
the gas leaked after the coating on some of the fuel rods deteriorated.
Fuel rods are sealed metal tubes
which hold nuclear materials used to fuel the nuclear reactor.Noble gases – also known as inert gases – are a group of stable chemical elements which have very low reactivity.
They are often used in situations
where scientists do not want chemical reactions, for instance in nuclear reactors or lighting.AFP news agency reports
the gases released were xenon and krypton.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
announced it has “no indication that a radiological incident occurred”.
The agency, which is the UN’s nuclear watchdog, said it had contacted counterparts in China about the issue.
EDF Energy
also announced on Monday that it had called a meeting of the plant’s board.China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group told state outlet the Global Times that
the nuclear plant has operated the reactors strictly in compliance with business licence documents and technical procedures.
BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57474384