Heshan decision to abandon uranium plant 'unjustified'
Authorities' decision to abandon plans for a uranium enrichment plant in Heshan in the face of public pressure was a mistake, experts say
When Chinese nuclear authorities approached an overseas expert about plans to build a nuclear fuel facility in Heshan, in the western Pearl River Delta, he immediately raised concerns about locating such a plant so close to a major urban area.
"It was a few years ago. I asked if they had another choice," the expert recalled to the South China Morning Post, declining to be named because of his company's policy on media interviews. "The population there seemed a bit dense, and it was a bit close to big urban areas. [Henan is only 30 kilometres from Foshan, near Guangzhou].
"I suggested that if they moved the site closer to Taishan , where a new nuclear power plant was already under construction, there would be fewer residents nearby and probably less resistance."
He went on to explain that such project needs as much land as possible to create a big enough buffer between it and residents.
But the authorities didn't listen. Still, he was surprised to hear recently that the Heshan government cancelled the project due to public contamination fears.
"There's a very low risk of radiation from a fuel plant," he said. "I can't believe they cancelled the project because of that."