Media Coverage
Source: Bloomberg
Media Coverage
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Taina Rosa, Olivia Thomas
06.16.21
An issue discovered inside China General Nuclear Power Corp.’s Taishan Unit 1 reactor, in which presumably damaged fuel rod casings leaked inert gas, has happened enough times in the industry that operators know how to manage it and it’s usually “not any kind of threat,” according to Jeff Merrifield, Pillsbury Energy partner and a former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner.
During a refueling, it’s possible that a stray item, something as small as a wire filament from a brush, can be left behind in the reactor, said Merrifield.
That filament could then get picked up by the water that circulates in the closed loop of the reactor, and rub up against the external coating of uranium fuel rods, potentially releasing radiation and gases. If the concentrations remain low enough, the plant can keep operating safely so long as it monitors radiation carefully to keep workers safe, he said.
“It’s not common, but it’s something that’s happened a sufficient number of times that it’s a well-understood phenomenon and relatively easy to manage,” Merrifield said.
Nuclear experts told Bloomberg they’re hoping for more transparency in the future. They see the carbon-free power source as key to the world’s fight against climate change, but raise concern over public sentiment after a handful of high-profile accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima.
“A lack of openly available information about this issue may be making people unnecessarily concerned about what’s going on,” Merrifield added.
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