South Carolina nuclear energy plant operator insists ‘no hazard to public’ after ‘small leak’ forces reactor SHUTDOWN

A nuclear energy plant in South Carolina was pressured to halt operations indefinitely to restore a “small” coolant leak in its reactor. The plant operator insists the incident is so minor there was no want to tell the general public.

The coolant leak on the VC Summer season nuclear plant in Jenkinsville, South Carolina had been found a number of weeks in the past and final week engineers had been pressured to close its sole reactor down. The corporate in control of the plant, Dominion Power, says no nuclear materials has escaped the power

Plant operators “have been monitoring a really small leak within the reactor coolant system,” Dominion Power stated in a press release. “This small leak is captured inside the web site’s containment constructing and isn’t going to the setting.”

An organization spokesman, Ken Holt, reiterated on Monday that the malfunction was “small” and posed “no hazard to the general public,” and stated whereas there was no must halt exercise on the plant, “operators made the conservative determination to close down the reactor to deal with the leak” anyway.

Additionally on rt.com

The complete extent of the incident stays unclear, however the firm instructed a defective valve stands out as the offender. Dominion declined to say when the plant could be again on-line, arguing the date it returns to service is “market delicate info.”

Although the plant operator insists there’s nothing to see at VC Summer season, South Carolina-based nuclear security professional and environmental activist Tom Clements stated Dominion’s lack of transparency was alarming.

“They need to have notified the general public,” Clements informed an area newspaper. “With nuclear crops, it’s important that there be full openness about security associated points.”

Clements beforehand filed a criticism over a plan to assemble two new reactors at VC Summer season, arguing the corporate main the challenge – the SCANA Company – employed unqualified engineers to draft building blueprints, which led to hundreds of design revisions, setbacks and price overruns. As a result of mounting issues, the reactor plan was in the end scrapped in 2017. The prevailing reactor at VC Summer season has been in operation for over 35 years.

Additionally on rt.com

Like this story? Share it with a pal!