[Epoch Times August 02, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Li Jing comprehensive report) Recently, the Chinese Communist Party announced that Guangdong Taishan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 had “fuel damage” and needed to be shut down for maintenance, which aroused the attention of the outside world. Three months ago, the French joint venture partner of the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant revealed that the nuclear power plant may have a radiation threat. The Chinese Communist Party immediately rejected the rumor that “no abnormality was seen,” but a few days later admitted that the fuel was damaged.
China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), a subsidiary of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the Communist Party of China, issued a notice on the evening of July 30, stating that there was “a small amount of fuel damage” during the operation of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. Unit 1 was shut down for maintenance to find the cause of fuel damage and replace the damaged fuel. The notification stated that the reactor was “safe and controllable.”
This nuclear power plant, known as the world‘s largest single-unit capacity, runs two third-generation European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR) units, operated by a Sino-French joint venture. EDF Group (EDF) owns 30% of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, and its subsidiary Framatome is responsible for technical support; while the Chinese state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group owns most of the shares.
EDF Group stated on July 22 that it would temporarily suspend operations of this nuclear reactor if similar fuel rod sealing problems occur in France. A spokesperson for the company said that the purpose of this is to accurately assess the situation and stop its malignant development.
CNN disclosed on June 13 that an inert gas leakage accident occurred at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant. The French investor stated in a technical assistance report submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy that the nuclear power plant may have an “immediate radiation threat.” At the same time, the French side warned that the National Nuclear Safety Administration of the Communist Party of China has raised the acceptable limits of radiation monitoring outside the Taishan nuclear power plant to avoid the forced shutdown of the nuclear power plant.
In response to the CNN report, the Chinese Communist Party responded immediately. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China and the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant both stated in the first place that “no abnormalities were seen.” However, three days later, the Chinese Communist Party officially admitted that Unit 1 of the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant did indeed have a fuel rod failure, but denied that there was a radiation leakage accident.
In May of this year, Framatome detected that the inert gas concentration in the Taishan nuclear power plant unit exceeded the standard and requested the joint venture party, China General Nuclear Power, to shut down for processing, but the Chinese side rejected it. In June, Framatome issued a letter requesting an exemption from the US to use nuclear testing technology belonging to the United States. Framatome is unable to directly use this technology because China General Nuclear Power Group is trying to obtain advanced US technology and materials and transfer them to the CCP’s military use. It was included in the US blacklist in 2019.
Editor in charge: Li Qiong#
.