![\"2016810789975FB-56CA-4434-85D9-8F1809429354_w640_r1_s(1).jpg](\"http:\/\/mzzg.org\/UploadCenter\/ArticlePics\/2016\/31\/2016810789975FB-56CA-4434-85D9-8F1809429354_w640_r1_s(1).jpg\")
<\/p> <\/p>
<\/p>
Lianyungang, China, map<\/span><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> August 10, 2016 3:09 AM<\/span><\/p> <\/p> BEIJING<\/span>—A city in eastern China city on Wednesday suspended preliminary work on site selection for a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility following days of protests by area residents that underscored a growing willingness by the public to oppose projects seen as threatening lives and property.<\/span><\/p> <\/p> A one sentence notice posted Wednesday on the website of the Lianyungang city government offered no details on longer-term plans.<\/span><\/p> <\/p> The city government had earlier responded to the weekend demonstrations in a downtown square by announcing that plans for the nuclear project were in early stages and no location had been confirmed.<\/span><\/p> <\/p> The police responded additional protests Tuesday with a ban on unauthorized public gatherings and a call to disregard rumors. About a dozen people who threw stones were reportedly detained by police.<\/span><\/p> <\/p> There have been no reports about the protests in Chinese media, indicating censors likely ordered publications to suppress information about them.<\/span><\/p> <\/p> China<\/span> has 32 reactors in operation, 22 under construction and more planned, making it the most active builder of nuclear power plants<\/span><\/p> <\/p> The government has spent heavily to build up its ability to produce fuel and process waste and the state-owned China National Nuclear Corp. has been seeking to build a nuclear fuel reprocessing center with French partner Areva starting in 2020. State media say a unit of CNNC and its French partner have looked at more than 10 potential locations for the reprocessing center and did preliminary research last year on Lianyungang.<\/span><\/p> <\/p> In 2013, similar plans to build a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility in the southern city of Heshan, near Hong Kong, were scrapped following protests by residents over possible risks.<\/span><\/p> <\/p>