US Intelligence officials have stated that they believe a Chinese nuclear power facility has been leaking radioactive gas for the last 2 weeks and that a major nuclear disaster may be unfolding in the southern Guangdong province near Hong Kong.
The issue was flagged to US officials by the French company that partly owns and operates the facility. They said while a leak is occurring, they do not believe the situation is as of yet at 'crisis-level'.
In a note, they warn of an 'imminent radiological threat to the site'. They also say that Chinese authorities are now operating the facilities at levels that would not be deemed safe in other countries.
Some have suggested that the recent Covid-19 lockdowns that have been imposed in the region could be a cover for the authorities wanting to keep people safe from the radioactive gas while at the same time avoiding mass-panic. The plant overwent a recent overhaul, though it is unclear if this is linked to the present crisis.
The China General Nuclear Power Group said in a statement:
"The environmental indicators of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant and its surroundings are normal."
The Taishan plant has been operational since 2018 and is part of a huge electricity and nuclear program that China has put in place to help fuel its booming economy.
At present, China has 47 nuclear power plants in operation around the country, producing around 5% of China's energy, around 48.75 million kilowatts. China is the third-biggest user of nuclear energy behind both the United States and France. China sees the building of nuclear power plants as a way of becoming carbon neutral because, despite the obvious risks of nuclear power, it does not release many greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. China aims to achieve this carbon-neutral goal by 2060. Over the last year, it is known that Russia and China have been discussing Russia building new nuclear power plants within China.
[h/t: Daily Mail]
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