The Professional Commons think tank says it is not convinced by the safety assurances of Taishan bosses. Photo: RTHK
The Professional Commons think tank warned Thursday that alleged safety problems at the Taishan nuclear plant – located just 130km away from Hong Kong – may be more widespread than what has been reported so far.
The think tank says many of parts used in the plant's reactors were manufactured by a problematic French firm Areva, which was earlier found to have produced substandard parts for the Flamanville Nuclear Plant in France. Areva is now facing charges ranging from the quality of its products, to forging documents.
Professional Commons convenor, Albert Lai, said it's unclear exactly what, and how many parts the French firm has supplied to Taishan, and the mainland nuclear authority has remained silent on the matter.
The FactWire news agency had earlier reported that the pressure vessels at the Taishan nuclear power plant had been produced by a subsidiary of Areva.
Lai said his group is not convinced by safety reassurances by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group.
He told RTHK’s Priscilla Ng that with a size that is almost three times that of the troubled Fukushima plant of Japan, the Taishan unit poses a considerable risk to Hong Kong.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1268265-20160623.htm
