Paris (AFP)
One of the EPR reactors at the Taishan nuclear power plant in southern China has suffered an "increase in the concentration of certain rare gases in the primary circuit," said the French group EDF.
"EDF has been informed of the increase in the concentration of certain rare gases in the primary circuit of reactor n ° 1 of the Taishan nuclear power plant owned and operated by TNPJVC, a joint venture of CGN (70%) and EDF (30 %) ", indicates the French group in a press release.
The primary circuit is a closed circuit containing pressurized water, which heats up in the reactor vessel in contact with the fuel elements.
So-called "rare" gases include argon, helium, krypton, neon or even xenon.
"The presence of certain rare gases in the primary circuit is a known phenomenon, studied and foreseen by the operating procedures of the reactors", adds EDF.
CNN, on the basis of a letter sent by Framatome to the US Department of Energy, reported a possible "leak" in this plant, which has two EPR reactors of French technology.
Still according to the American channel, the Chinese safety authorities have also raised the acceptable limits of radiation outside the site to avoid having to shut down the plant.
EDF says it has contacted the TNPJVC joint venture and "brings its expertise".
The French group also says it has "requested the holding of an extraordinary board of directors of TPNJVC so that the management presents all the data and the necessary decisions".
© 2021 AFP