On 3 July, in an open container at the scrapyard a radioactive source was found. After finding the source, the area around the container was roped off and the source was covered by appropriate shielding material. The next day the source was recovered and safely stored. The source was then examined in a radiological facility. The source turned out to be a 16+/- 1 megabecquerel strontium-90 source. It is a cylindrical type source with a diameter of 10 mm and a height of 8 mm. At the surface of the source there was found the inscription "E946". The beta dose rate at 50 cm was about 350 micro-sievert per hour. An investigation to trace the origin of the source was not successful. Rating Justification: The rating of this incident, the discovery of a sealed radioactive source, according to part II, III and IV of the manual (INES User's Manual, 2001 edition) was not straightforward. However, similar to the examples of Part V (paragraph V-1.2 and V-3.2), and according to table V of paragraph IV-3.2.2.3. (Maximum potential consequences, INES level 3,4 and number of remaining safety layers: 0) this incident is rated level 2 because of the high dose rate at short distance: 1 sievert per hour at 1 centimeter. Within a few hours this source could cause burninjury. Such could happen if someone would put the source in this pocket.
An analysis by the Norwegian NGO Bellona of transborder trade operations with the customs code 840130 (irradiated fuel assemblies or fuel elements) show a more than twofold increase of import to EU countries of fresh nuclear fuel in cash terms – from 280 million Euros in 2022 to 686 million Euros in 2023. In physical […]
The French government has said it is "seriously" studying the option of building a plant to convert and enrich reprocessed uranium to cut its reliance on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The only plant in the world that currently converts reprocessed uranium for use in nuclear power plants is in Russia. "The option of […]
Jan vd Putte quickly changed from dressing as the pied piper at the protest during the IAEA nuclear power conference to warn for the Russian nuclear power conglomerate Rosatom and its role in Ukraine.
Anke Herold, Executive Director Oeko-Institut, Freiburg (Germany), in Brussels about the claim to triple nuclear by 2050: IPCC scenarios vs forecast development of nuclear.
