When on-load refuelling of coolant channel B-15 was in progress, three pairs of spent fuel bundles were received in downstream fuelling machine in auto mode of operation. Subsequently manual mode of operations was being carried out to receive fourth pair of fuel bundles using ram-B and ram-C strokes in the upstream machine instead of using second ram extension as envisaged in Auto programme. This was done to reduce disturbance to reactor power. After the completion of these operations, it was found that only one bundle of fourth pair had entered into magazine of downstream machine with one bundle left back in the channel, but operator thought that the fuel string consisting of 13 bundles would have got loaded against downstream shield plug to a value higher than the safety limit of 545 kgs,
stipulated in Technical Specifications. However, subsequent analysis confirmend no damage to any of the fuel bundles. As a matter of caution, all the fuel bundles in this channel were replaced with new bundles. The event involved outside operational limits and conditions for a short time and hence it is rated as level 1 as per clause III 3.1.3 of INES user's manual.
The Netherlands has agreed to allow Urenco to be used for the British military nuclear program. This clears the way for uranium enriched by Urenco to be used in nuclear weapons. With his decision, Foreign Minister Berendsen (CDA Christen Democrats) is departing from the principle that civilian and military nuclear applications must remain strictly separate. […]
Behnam Raeesian is an internationally recognized visual artist and poster designer from Iran, known for bold political and cultural works. Through exhibitions, workshops, jury roles, and collaborations with cultural institutions worldwide, he has built a strong voice in contemporary political graphic design. His projects confront complex issues such as nuclear risk and technological impact, transforming […]
Everywhere you look, the nuclear industry’s hype machine is in overdrive. Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and the UK government all tout small modular reactors as the silver bullet for climate change and energy security. Tech billionaires are hiring nuclear veterans. Wall Street is whispering about “round-the-clock power” for artificial intelligence data centers. For those old enough […]
Kernenergie en veiligheid: A wargame sought to test if a major radiological release that would prompt the evacuation of millions of civilians in South Korea could distract key US allies from assisting and rebuffing an all-out military invasion of Taiwan. The short answer was yes. The game originally presumed that China, wanting to keep the […]
Big batteries and EVs to the rescue again as faults with new nuclear plant cause chaos on Nordic grids The Finnish nuclear power plant Olkiluoto was finally connected to the grid last year, at an estimated cost of €11 billion compared to the original budget of €3 billion. That cost blowout forced its developer, the […]
