Risk of another Chernobyl disaster with new EPR nuclear reactor design
dv | 30.09.2010 10:38 | Climate Chaos | Ecology | Health
The French Nuclear Phase-Out Network (Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire) has received new confidential internal documents belonging to French utility EDF that show that flaws in the Areva EPR nuclear reactor design, the same type due to be built by EDF at Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk, could lead to a Chernobyl-type disaster.
Sortir du Nucléaire Press Release 30 September 2010
EXCLUSIVE: Confidential EDF documents show serious accident risks with the EPR reactor
On Monday 27 September, the French Nuclear Phase out Network "Sortir du nucléaire" received internal EDF documents, showing that the design and manufacture of the vessel closure head for the EPR in Flamanville could lead to a Tchernobyl-type accident.
Worse still, according to a memo written by the Head of nuclear fuel from EDF in 2001 (1), a Tchernobyl-type accident is possible on all French nuclear reactors. The EPR is also concerned.
Several EDF documents show that the number of welds and the type of steel used in some parts of the reactor vessel at Flamanville EPR may cause leaks. EDF considers that the leaks may, in turn, degenerate into a Tchernobyl-type accident. This type of steel and welds are part of the emergency shutdown system of the EPR and cover 89 points of entry into the reactor vessel.
EDF documents received by the network "Sortir du nucléaire" demonstrate that EDF engineers have designed parts of the vessel closure head for the EPR that not only endanger safety but also knowingly violate French law (2) relating to nuclear facilities under pressure.
For the Network "Sortir du nucléaire", the conclusion is obvious: in spite of all these issues, EDF persists in a policy that sacrifices security for profits! In view of the catastrophic consequences of an accident, this attitude is unimaginable and unforgivable.
Design flaws, increased toxicity of waste, untested technology, vulnerability to attacks (or even cyber-terrorism) ... Before the submission by EDF of a safety report for Flamanville the network "Sortir du nucléaire" wishes to remind everyone about all the problems with this reactor. In France, Finland and elsewhere, it is urgent to put an end to the EPR program and initiate the transition towards a future without nuclear power.
Link to EDF documentation and our detailed analysis (all in french):
http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/dossiers/EPR-revelations2.html
More information about all the problems of the EPR:
http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/dossiers/EPR.html
Press Contact
Steven Mitchell: +33 952 495 022
[1] Management Activities of Hearts Physics and Fuels, SEPTEN, Andre Berthet (20.12.2001).
[2] violations of the decree of 12 December 2005 on nuclear pressure equipment.
EXCLUSIVE: Confidential EDF documents show serious accident risks with the EPR reactor
On Monday 27 September, the French Nuclear Phase out Network "Sortir du nucléaire" received internal EDF documents, showing that the design and manufacture of the vessel closure head for the EPR in Flamanville could lead to a Tchernobyl-type accident.
Worse still, according to a memo written by the Head of nuclear fuel from EDF in 2001 (1), a Tchernobyl-type accident is possible on all French nuclear reactors. The EPR is also concerned.
Several EDF documents show that the number of welds and the type of steel used in some parts of the reactor vessel at Flamanville EPR may cause leaks. EDF considers that the leaks may, in turn, degenerate into a Tchernobyl-type accident. This type of steel and welds are part of the emergency shutdown system of the EPR and cover 89 points of entry into the reactor vessel.
EDF documents received by the network "Sortir du nucléaire" demonstrate that EDF engineers have designed parts of the vessel closure head for the EPR that not only endanger safety but also knowingly violate French law (2) relating to nuclear facilities under pressure.
For the Network "Sortir du nucléaire", the conclusion is obvious: in spite of all these issues, EDF persists in a policy that sacrifices security for profits! In view of the catastrophic consequences of an accident, this attitude is unimaginable and unforgivable.
Design flaws, increased toxicity of waste, untested technology, vulnerability to attacks (or even cyber-terrorism) ... Before the submission by EDF of a safety report for Flamanville the network "Sortir du nucléaire" wishes to remind everyone about all the problems with this reactor. In France, Finland and elsewhere, it is urgent to put an end to the EPR program and initiate the transition towards a future without nuclear power.
Link to EDF documentation and our detailed analysis (all in french):
http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/dossiers/EPR-revelations2.html More information about all the problems of the EPR:
http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/dossiers/EPR.html Press Contact
Steven Mitchell: +33 952 495 022
[1] Management Activities of Hearts Physics and Fuels, SEPTEN, Andre Berthet (20.12.2001).
[2] violations of the decree of 12 December 2005 on nuclear pressure equipment.
dv
Homepage:
http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net
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