On 22 November 2012, a type A package containing Cs-137 (54 GBq) triggered a radiation alarm at the Frankfurt airport, Germany. The package originated in Brisbane, Australia and was shipped on a passenger airplane via Dubai. The package examination found that one of the Cs-137 sources (18.5 GBq) transported in the package was found outside its shielded container but within the overpack and another source was lodged between the lid and body of the shielded container. The maximum dose rate on surface of the overpack was measured to be 33 mSv/hr and 0.94 mSv/hr at distance of 1m.
To estimate the potential dose to passengers on the flight from Brisbane to Frankfurt, conservative cargo hall and passenger deck configurations were considered. The result indicated that more than 10 people, both on board of the airplanes and the package handlers at respective airports, could have received effective whole body doses between approximately 3 and 6.6 mSv. These estimates are above the statutory annual dose limits for members of the public (1 mSv).
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.
