Residents of Chinese city protest for third day over possible plans to build nuclear fuel reprocessing centre

Residents of a city north of Shanghai have protested for a third day against possible plans to build a nuclear fuel reprocessing centre, a protester and a city employee said on Tuesday, as police announced a ban on public gatherings.

The protests in Lianyungang in Jiangsu reflect public unease about the safety of mainland China’s state-owned nuclear industry and growing willingness to oppose nuclear, chemical and other industrial projects.

The city government responded to the weekend demonstrations in a downtown square with an announcement that plans for the nuclear project were in early stages and no location had been confirmed.

Despite that, protesters gathered again Monday, according to a city hall employee who would give only his surname, Zhang, and a man who gave his surname as Wang. Wang said he took part in one weekend protest and witnessed others.

About a dozen people who threw stones on Monday were detained by police, according to Wang. He said local residents were discussing plans for possible additional protests.