Govt ‘highly concerned’ about Taishan plant: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that her government is highly concerned about reports of a potential gas buildup at the Taishan nuclear plant in Guangdong, even though authorities have not detected any abnormalities so far.

CNN reported on Monday that the US government is assessing a report of a leak at the plant about 130 kilometres west of Hong Kong, after its French operator, Framatome, warned of an “imminent radiological threat”.

Framatome said it is “supporting resolution of a performance issue” at the plant run by a joint venture between its mother company, EDF, and China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN).

EDF subsequently explained that there was an “increase in the concentration of certain noble gases in the primary circuit of reactor no. 1”, but the state-run CGN insisted in a statement that “the environmental indicators of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant and its surroundings are normal”.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lam said her administration is highly concerned about the reports, adding that the Observatory and the Water Supplies Department have been constantly monitoring local radiation levels.

“As the Security Bureau said last night, everything is normal and in line with the relevant standards,” she said, adding that officials will contact the relevant mainland authorities and keep the public informed of any new developments.