Radioactive coolant leak at Europe's largest nuclear reactor

The Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor in Finland has a radioactive coolant leak, believed to be due to human error.

The turbine hall is connected to OL3, the newest of three reactors at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant on the island of Eurajoki in western Finland.

AFP news agency on March 10 quoted a statement from TVO Company, which operates the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor in Finland, saying that about 100 ^cubic meters of "radioactive coolant" leaked from the reactor, but the incident did not pose a safety risk.

The leak occurred on March 7 during the reactor's annual shutdown for maintenance, "related to filling the reactor containment pool," according to the statement.

"The coolant flowed into containment rooms close to the environment and into the containment room's floor drain system. This incident did not pose any risk to personnel, the environment or nuclear safety," TVO said.

According to TVO, the leak is believed to have been caused by “human error” as the tank’s hatch was not properly closed. “Ultimately, the incident level for radiation safety is low, as safety measures were taken,” TVO said.

TVO added that the incident would not affect its planned annual downtime, which is expected to last until May.

The next-generation European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR), built by the French-led Areva-Siemens consortium, provides more than 10% of Finland's electricity.

Like several other EPR projects, the reactor on Finland's southwest coast has suffered repeated construction delays and cost overruns that have added billions of dollars.

Olkiluoto 3 is the largest nuclear reactor in Europe, while Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with six reactors, is the largest nuclear plant.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ro-ri-chat-lam-mat-phong-xa-tai-lo-phan-ung-hat-nhan-lon-nhat-chau-au-185250310203927951.htm