Nuclear: for EDF, the Taishan EPR reactor in China should be shut down
The Taishan nuclear site in China, June 17, 2021. AP
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3 min
It has been more than a month since the incident broke out at the Taishan nuclear power plant in China.
This is an accumulation of radioactive gases within the EPR, a new generation nuclear reactor.
EDF, a shareholder in the project, believes that the same incident taking place in France would lead to the shutdown of the installation
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This accumulation of gas is a “
common
” phenomenon
.
(...) There is no danger
”, affirmed the Chinese authorities a month ago after the outbreak of the incident.
This is not the same story with EDF, a partner of China General Power Group on this project.
[Press release] Communication from EDF concerning reactor n ° 1 of the Taishan nuclear power plant
- EDF (@EDFofficiel) July 22, 2021
The group has carried out analyzes and believes that if the same situation were to occur in France on an EPR reactor, it would decide to shut down the installation.
And EDF, which supplied the EPR technology to the Chinese group, justifies: “
This shutdown would make it possible to precisely characterize the current phenomenon and stop its development.
"
EDF distances itself from the decision of China General Power Group
The group also confirms its initial hypothesis: the increase in rare gases in the number one reactor of the Taishan power station is due to "
the leakage of fuel rods
".
Above all, he distances himself from the decisions of his Chinese partner who at this stage does not seem convinced by shutting down the reactor.
On the other hand, the French group sought to temper by explaining that "
the radiochemical parameters of the water in the primary circuit remain below the regulatory thresholds in force at the Taishan plant, thresholds which are consistent with international practices
".
► To read also: Today the economy - Why the incident on the Chinese EPR weakens the French nuclear industry
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