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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Leaking fuel rod 'nothing to worry about' |
| 2006-05-31 |
| There has been a leaking fuel rod in one of Koeberg's nuclear reactors "for some time", but Eskom says this is nothing to worry about. And the other unit at Koeberg has a problem with a valve, which has meant its power output has had to be reduced to 80 percent. But Eskom says this will not increase the risk of rolling blackouts to the province - already at risk with only one nuclear reactor working - because it is able get enough power from Mpumalanga on the transmission lines to make up the shortfall. Eskom spokesperson Carin de Villiers said yesterday the leaking fuel rod was in Koeberg's unit 2, which had been shut down for refuelling and maintenance. It had been due to be shut down for refuelling at the end of March, but was kept on line because the other unit had been damaged in December by a loose bolt. De Villiers said this was "not the first time in Koeberg's 22 years that they've had a fuel leak" and it would probably not be the last. "It means there is a small pinprick hole in the rod and the fuel has direct access to the water that surrounds the fuel rods. Once it's in the water it stays there, it can't go anywhere," she said. She was not sure when the fuel leak in unit 2 had been detected, but said it had been there "for some time". "We suspect it is in the fuel that's going to come out anyway (during refuelling). If not, we will have to repair it or replace it." The problem with the valve was in unit 1, which came back into operation two weeks ago after the damaged generator had been repaired. De Villiers said the valve was "on the primary system (the reactor) or on a system attached to the primary system". "Because of this, the unit throttled back and went down to 80 percent. It shouldn't (increase the likelihood of blackouts) because we're able to bring more power down on the transmission lines." Thanks Carin, just a little seepage, no worries eh? |
| Posted by:Besoeker |