Chinese nuclear regulator insists there is no cause for alarm at Taishan plant
- National Nuclear Safety Administrator says less than 0.01 per cent of fuel rods are damaged – a ‘common phenomenon’ that poses no risk to public
- Regulator denies CNN report that it raised permitted radiation levels near site, saying it had only changed the limit for inert gases
Only five of the 60,000 fuel rods at a nuclear plant in southern China have been damaged, the country’s safety regulator said on Wednesday, insisting there was no danger to the public or environment.
CNN also reported that safety regulators had increased the radiation detection levels allowed near the plant to keep it running.
“Due to the influence of uncontrollable factors in fuel manufacturing, transportation, loading and other links, a small amount of fuel rod damage is inevitable,” the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) said in a statement, pointing out that the ratio of damaged rods is “less than 0.01 per cent” and such incident was a “common phenomenon”.
“There is no problem of radioactive leakage to the environment,” the statement said, adding that radiation detected in the reactor coolant had increased but that the rise was within the permitted range.