China reports leak in one of its nuclear power plants

A nuclear power plant in southeast China could turn into an "imminent radiological threat," the plant's co-owner, a French company, has told the United States, CNN reported Monday, citing US officials and a letter the French company received it would have. The US evaluated the cracked gas leak report last week, CNN reports, citing the French firm's warning that China's authorities had raised the limits of acceptable radiation levels in and around the facility to avoid a shutdown. The Taishan nuclear power plant in the Chinese province of Guangdong is operated by a joint venture in which the French energy giant EDF and its subsidiary Framatome hold a 30 percent stake. The EDF Group and its subsidiary Framatome supplied the EPR pressure reactor technology for the plant. According to US government officials speaking to CNN, the situation with the Chinese nuclear power plant has not reached a "crisis level". The French company has reached out to the United States for an exemption that would allow them to use US technical assistance to resolve the problem at the facility. China has not yet admitted there is a problem, reports CNN. The US government is in contact with the French government to discuss the situation, sources told CNN. Contact has also been made with China, although it is not clear to what extent. According to CNN's report, French company Framatome issued a statement Monday regarding Taishan's number 1 reactor, saying it is "helping to resolve a performance problem with the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant." "According to the data available, the plant is operating within safety parameters," said the company. "Our team is working with relevant experts to assess the situation and propose solutions to address a potential problem," added Framatome.