(MENAFN) China has scrapped plans to build a uranium processing plant in a southern Chinese city, after hundreds of protesters took to the streets demanding the project to be stopped, Reuters reported citing the South China Morning Post.
A one-line statement published on the Heshan city government's website said that "to respect people's desire, the Heshan government will not propose the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) project".
According to the South China Morning Post, the proposed complex in the heart of China's Pearl River delta industrial heartland in Guangdong province had also sparked unease in neighbouring Hong Kong and Macau.
State-run CNNC and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp (CGNPC) had planned to build the USD6 billion project on a building area of 230 hectares, with an estimated output capacity of 1,000 tonnes of uranium annually by 2020.
The abrupt decision to cancel the project came after hundreds marched to city offices on Friday that forced officials to pledge an extension of public consultation by 10 days. Locals had planned more protests on Sunday.
Chinese authorities are becoming increasingly sensitive to local protests over environmental issues, having cancelled, postponed or relocated several major petrochemical and metals plants.
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