According to<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-environment-ministry-says-no-leak-at-taishan-nuclear-power-station-391794"> China's</a> state-run Global Times, the country has started construction of the world's first commercial modular small reactor on land&nbsp;in south China's Hainan province.

The Chinese newspaper said the project has been launched by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and will have power generation capacity of 125,000 kilowatts and its annual power generation capacity would be 1 billion kilowatt hours capable of serving 526,000 households.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-calls-chinas-nuclear-arsenal-build-up-concerning-395363/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The report added the small reactor technology has independent intellectual property rights which was developed by CNNC for over ten years and reportedly has high safety and flexible deployment capability.

The Linglong 1 was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency&nbsp;(IAEA) in 2016 after a safety test, it said.

The reactor can use <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/potential-leak-in-china-nuclear-plant-facing-performance-issue-report-391432">nuclear</a> energy for various functions including power generation and can be used in the mining sector, industrial parks and for high-end consumption industries.

The newspaper quoting CNNC said that the new reactor can greatly reduce the consumption of fossil fuel and help in decreasing carbon emissions.

China has reportedly built 51 nuclear power units with 19 under construction. The Linglong 1 is being built as a demonstration project in Changjiang nuclear power plant paving the way for modular small reactor technology to be taken up on a global scale.

China currently has the world's third-largest park of nuclear reactors after the United States and France and has invested heavily in developing the nuclear energy sector.

Last month a report said French company&nbsp;Framatome had warned of an "imminent radiological threat" at the Taishan nuclear plant, however, Chinese authorities said radiation levels were normal.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to China's state-run Global Times, the country has started construction of the world's first commercial modular small reactor on land in south China's Hainan province.

According to China's state-run Global Times, the country has started construction of the world's first commercial modular small reactor on land in south China's Hainan province. The Chinese newspaper said the project has been launched by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and will have power generation capacity of 125,000 kilowatts and its annual power generation capacity would be 1 billion kilowatt hours capable of serving 526,000 households. Watch: The report added the small reactor technology has independent intellectual property rights which was developed by CNNC for over ten years and reportedly has high safety and flexible deployment capability. The Linglong 1 was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2016 after a safety test, it said. The reactor can use nuclear energy for various functions including power generation and can be used in the mining sector, industrial parks and for high-end consumption industries. The newspaper quoting CNNC said that the new reactor can greatly reduce the consumption of fossil fuel and help in decreasing carbon emissions. China has reportedly built 51 nuclear power units with 19 under construction. The Linglong 1 is being built as a demonstration project in Changjiang nuclear power plant paving the way for modular small reactor technology to be taken up on a global scale. China currently has the world's third-largest park of nuclear reactors after the United States and France and has invested heavily in developing the nuclear energy sector. Last month a report said French company Framatome had warned of an "imminent radiological threat" at the Taishan nuclear plant, however, Chinese authorities said radiation levels were normal. (With inputs from Agencies)

China begins construction of world’s first commercial modular small reactor

A&nbsp;US media report has revealed the possibility of a potential leak in a&nbsp;Chinese nuclear plant near Hong Kong after its French operator said that the&nbsp;plant is dealing with a "performance issue" linked to a gas build-up.

The Taishan Nuclear Power Plant is jointly owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and French multinational electric utility Électricité de France, the main owner of Framotome, which helps operate the plant.

CNN reported Monday that Framotome had written to the US&nbsp;Department of Energy warning of an ''imminent radiological threat''&nbsp;and accusing Chinese authorities of raising acceptable limits for radiation outside the plant to avoid having to shut it down.

EDF, the majority owner of Framatome, said in a statement that it had requested an extraordinary meeting of the power plant's board "for management to present all the data and the necessary decisions".

Framatome said in a statement&nbsp;that it is "supporting a resolution of a performance issue" at the plant.

"According to the data available, the plant is operating within the safety parameters," the company said.

EDF later said that there was an "increase in the concentration of certain noble gases in the primary circuit of reactor no. 1" at Taishan, referring to a part of the reactor's cooling system.

Noble gases are elements like argon, helium and neon which have low chemical reactivity.

Their presence in the system "is a known phenomenon, studied and provided for in the reactor operating procedures," EDF said.

David Fishman, manager at energy-focused consulting group The Lantau Group, said that the presence of noble gases could suggest the problem was caused by a cracked fuel rod.

"When you have a cracked fuel rod... you get a small release potentially of fission materials from inside that cracked fuel rod into the cooling loop, where it wouldn't normally be," he said.&nbsp;

"Failed fuel or cracked fuel is a fairly normal and common, undesirably certainly&nbsp;but not uncommon phenomenon in the nuclear fuel industry."

Citing a letter from Framatome to the US energy department, CNN said the warning included an accusation that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation outside the facility in order to avoid having to shut it down.

But a US official told the broadcaster that the administration of President Joe Biden believes the facility is not yet at "crisis level".

The operator of the power station, state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), said in a statement on Sunday evening that "the environmental indicators of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant and its surroundings are normal".

It did not reference any leak or incident at the power station, which it said meets "the requirements of nuclear safety regulations and power plant technical specifications."

The International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN body, said it had contacted its counterpart in China regarding the issue.

"At this stage, the Agency has no indication that a radiological incident occurred," the IAEA said in a statement, adding that it would share more information "as it becomes available".

If the problem is a cracked fuel rod, said Fishman, it would have to be logged by the Chinese nuclear safety administration with a mitigation report to fix the problem.

What's more, "if (Framatome) were going to transfer over any information that they have gotten from working in the US, they would have to apply for an exemption... because CGN is on the US entity list," he added.

"It is a no-fly zone for any US information, any information or data or technology or IP to go to China."

Powered up in 2018, the Taishan plant was the first worldwide to operate a next-generation EPR nuclear reactor, a pressurised water design that has been subject to years of delays in similar European projects in Britain, France and Finland.

There are now two EPR power units at the plant in the city of Taishan, which sits close to the coastline of southern Guangdong -- China's most populous province.

EPR reactors have been touted as promising advances in safety and efficiency over conventional reactors while producing less waste.

Nuclear plants supplied less than five percent of China's annual electricity needs in 2019, according to the National Energy Administration, but this share is expected to grow as Beijing attempts to become carbon neutral by 2060.

China has 47 nuclear plants with a total generation capacity of 48.75 gigawatts, the world's third-highest after the United States and France&nbsp;and has invested billions of dollars to develop its nuclear energy sector.

Last month Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping launched work on Russian-built nuclear power plants in China.

(With inputs from agencies)

A US media report has revealed the possibility of a potential leak in a Chinese nuclear plant near Hong Kong after its French operator said that the plant is dealing with a "performance issue" linked to a gas build-up.

A US media report has revealed the possibility of a potential leak in a Chinese nuclear plant near Hong Kong after its French operator said that the plant is dealing with a "performance issue" linked to a gas build-up. The Taishan Nuclear Power Plant is jointly owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and French multinational electric utility Électricité de France, the main owner of Framotome, which helps operate the plant. CNN reported Monday that Framotome had written to the US Department of Energy warning of an ''imminent radiological threat'' and accusing Chinese authorities of raising acceptable limits for radiation outside the plant to avoid having to shut it down. EDF, the majority owner of Framatome, said in a statement that it had requested an extraordinary meeting of the power plant's board "for management to present all the data and the necessary decisions". Framatome said in a statement that it is "supporting a resolution of a performance issue" at the plant. "According to the data available, the plant is operating within the safety parameters," the company said. EDF later said that there was an "increase in the concentration of certain noble gases in the primary circuit of reactor no. 1" at Taishan, referring to a part of the reactor's cooling system. Noble gases are elements like argon, helium and neon which have low chemical reactivity. Their presence in the system "is a known phenomenon, studied and provided for in the reactor operating procedures," EDF said. David Fishman, manager at energy-focused consulting group The Lantau Group, said that the presence of noble gases could suggest the problem was caused by a cracked fuel rod. "When you have a cracked fuel rod... you get a small release potentially of fission materials from inside that cracked fuel rod into the cooling loop, where it wouldn't normally be," he said. "Failed fuel or cracked fuel is a fairly normal and common, undesirably certainly but not uncommon phenomenon in the nuclear fuel industry." Citing a letter from Framatome to the US energy department, CNN said the warning included an accusation that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation outside the facility in order to avoid having to shut it down. But a US official told the broadcaster that the administration of President Joe Biden believes the facility is not yet at "crisis level". The operator of the power station, state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), said in a statement on Sunday evening that "the environmental indicators of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant and its surroundings are normal". It did not reference any leak or incident at the power station, which it said meets "the requirements of nuclear safety regulations and power plant technical specifications." The International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN body, said it had contacted its counterpart in China regarding the issue. "At this stage, the Agency has no indication that a radiological incident occurred," the IAEA said in a statement, adding that it would share more information "as it becomes available". If the problem is a cracked fuel rod, said Fishman, it would have to be logged by the Chinese nuclear safety administration with a mitigation report to fix the problem. What's more, "if (Framatome) were going to transfer over any information that they have gotten from working in the US, they would have to apply for an exemption... because CGN is on the US entity list," he added. "It is a no-fly zone for any US information, any information or data or technology or IP to go to China." Powered up in 2018, the Taishan plant was the first worldwide to operate a next-generation EPR nuclear reactor, a pressurised water design that has been subject to years of delays in similar European projects in Britain, France and Finland. There are now two EPR power units at the plant in the city of Taishan, which sits close to the coastline of southern Guangdong -- China's most populous province. EPR reactors have been touted as promising advances in safety and efficiency over conventional reactors while producing less waste. Nuclear plants supplied less than five percent of China's annual electricity needs in 2019, according to the National Energy Administration, but this share is expected to grow as Beijing attempts to become carbon neutral by 2060. China has 47 nuclear plants with a total generation capacity of 48.75 gigawatts, the world's third-highest after the United States and France and has invested billions of dollars to develop its nuclear energy sector. Last month Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping launched work on Russian-built nuclear power plants in China. (With inputs from agencies)

Potential leak in China nuclear plant facing 'performance issue': Report

china-nuclear-plant-leak

China Nuclear Plant Leak, News on China Nuclear Plant Leak, stories on China Nuclear Plant Leak, articles on China Nuclear Plant Leak, China Nuclear Plant Leak stories at Wion, China Nuclear Plant Leak news, China Nuclear Plant Leak latest news

china nuclear-plant-leak

China begins construction of world’s first commercial modular small reactor

Potential leak in China nuclear plant facing 'performance issue': Report