Drips of liquid were observed from a valve flange on a condensate drain line from a ventilation duct which serves the Magnox fuel Reprocessing plant at Sellafield.
The drip was outdoors onto ground made up of a concrete slab and gravelled surface. The area was formally part of a Sellafield contamination controlled area but is now in an area free from contamination control. The area is, however, within the secure boundary of the facility. The condensate was sampled and confirmed to be contaminated with radioactive materials.
Precautionary access restrictions were applied to the 2 square metres area local to the contamination. Additionally, reassurance monitoring of construction workers who had used a nearby walkway has confirmed that they had not been contaminated. Monitoring also confirmed that no wider spread of contamination has occurred. Notification to the UK authorities occurred promptly as the amount was expected to exceed thresholds in Ionising Radiations Regulations. The event was initially rated INES 1 and re-rated INES 2 on 2009-05-11.
Last year, the Dutch Province of Limburg started an alliance in which, besides the local government, research institutes, small nuclear reactor (SMR) developers, utilities, industrial customers and funders cooperated. With this "Limburg SMR alliance" Limburg tried to lead the way towards an SMR in Limburg. The preferred site for a first SMR would be Chemelot, […]
From the IPFM: During a visit to the Civaux nuclear power plant on 18 March 2024, France's Minister of the Armed Forces unveiled a plan to use the plant to produce tritium for the French nuclear weapons program. Civaux is a civilian power plant that belongs to and is operated by Electricité de France. According […]
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.
