Nuclear reactor shut down in southern China over fuel rod damage

China has shut down a reactor at a nuclear plant in the southern Guangdong province to repair fuel rod damage, the state-run operator said on Friday weeks after a reported increase in radioactivity levels had sparked fears of a leak.

The plant operator China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) said in a statement published on its website that it had shut Unit 1 at the Taishan nuclear plant in Guangdong province after “lengthy” talks with technicians.

“After lengthy conversations between French and Chinese technical personnel, Taishan Nuclear Power Plant … decided to shut down Unit 1 for maintenance,” CGN said on Friday, adding that “a small amount of fuel damage” occurred during the operation of the reactor.