Society

Nuclear power stations in S China not affected by earthquake

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-10 09:00

GUANGZHOU - Two nuclear power stations under construction have not been affected by a mild earthquake that struck south China's Guangdong Province Friday, company officials said.

According to the provincial earthquake monitoring network, an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter Scale Friday hit the junction of Taishan City and Yangjiang City where the two nuclear power stations are located.

"The nuclear power stations being built were not at all affected as the facilities were designed to withstand at least 8-magnitude earthquakes," said a spokesman of China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Corporation (CGNPC).

He said the sites of these two power stations were carefully chosen and approved by the China Earthquake Administration. Records show that the strongest earthquake that shook the sites did not exceed 6.0 in magnitude.

The construction of the Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station -- with a full installed capacity of 6 million kilowatts -- started in December 2008 and is planned to be put into commercial operation in 2013. The construction of the Taishan Nuclear Power Station -- with an initial installed capacity of 3.5 million kilowatts -- started in 2009 and is expected to be completed around 2014, the CGNPC said.