Nuclear experts in Guangdong Province have defended the selection of a site in Yangjiang City for a nuclear power plant, even though the city has a history of earthquakes up to 6.4 degrees on the Richter scale.

Among 11 candidate sites in Guangdong coastal areas, the Yangjiang site was the best, Guangdong Nuclear Power Group experts said Monday.

The group has conducted feasibility studies at the Yangjiang site since 1998. A review commissioned by the State Development and Reform Commission also agreed in July that the Yangjiang site was the best choice.

The site complied with national standards concerning nuclear safety, the experts said.

Past earthquakes caused a maximum impact of 6 degrees to the site, while the nuclear power plant would be designed to withstand an impact of up to 8 degrees, the experts said.

After a 10-year survey and research, a group of seismological research institutes have determined potential quake powers at the site. The results have been approved by the State Seismological Bureau.

Construction of the new plant will begin 2007. On completion, the plant will have six generators with a capacity of 1 million kilowatts each.

More than 50 nuclear power stations in Japan were located in active seismic areas, but only one had been affected by an earthquake, the experts said.

(Shenzhen Daily December 10, 2003)