Category Archives: Europe

Escalating concerns may keep Belgian reactor closed; four reactors in Virginia may also be subject to increased inspection

Posted on August 14, 2012 by

On Thursday, inspectors at the Doel nuclear power plant in Belgium discovered cracks in the Unit 3 reactor vessel. As CBS News reported Friday: The possible flaw was discovered while the plant was shut for annual maintenance, Karina De Beule, a … Continue reading →

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Fire closes nuclear power plant in Spain; One worker injured

Posted on June 15, 2012 by

News reports are kind of sparse on this incident, but the Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch reported this afternoon: An electrical fire forced a shutdown of Spain’s Almaraz I nuclear plant, the country’s nuclear safety authority said Friday. One worker … Continue reading →

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Forty year old Swiss nuke shut because of faulty main pump

Posted on March 24, 2012 by

According to an Agence France-Presse story carried today in the Inquirer News: A reactor at the world’s oldest functioning nuclear plant, in Beznau, Switzerland, has been temporarily shut down because of a problem with its main pump, its operator Axpo … Continue reading →

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Safestor: How come I don’t feel Safe?

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

Last year, TEPCO announced that it was going to build temporary structures over its damaged Fukushima reactors. I derided the temporary shelters as circus tents. Now, it looks as if the tents may be part of a larger worldwide plan. As the … Continue reading →

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French reactor shut down following discovery of cracks in pressure vessel tubes

Posted on December 22, 2011 by

World Nuclear News reported earlier today: Inspection work has revealed tiny cracks on a penetration at the bottom of Gravelines 1′s reactor pressure vessel. The power unit remains shut down until a repair has been made.  In France’s 900-MWe class … Continue reading →

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Dry weather threatening to shut French nukes

Posted on November 29, 2011 by

Reuters reported this morning: Dry weather conditions are starting to hit output at France’s nuclear reactors with EDF forced to stop one reactor in northern France to protect river flows, EDF said on Monday. France, the European Union’s biggest power … Continue reading →

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Steam leak limits British reactor

Posted on November 19, 2011 by

The Norfolk Eastern Daily Press reported this morning: Investigative work is continuing at a nuclear power station after one of its two turbines had to be taken offline. Sizewell B is currently operating at half power. EDF Energy, which owns … Continue reading →

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Sorry, wrong button: British nuke erroneously reports leak to surrounding community

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

Emergency services and businesses surrounding the Heysham nuclear power plant in Great Britain received a notification of an emergency at the site. Plant ower EDF Energy issued a press release saying that there was no emergency at the plant. The … Continue reading →

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Source of radioactive iodine in northern Europe is unclear, says UN agency‏

Posted on November 13, 2011 by

Reuters reported Friday: Very low levels of radioactive iodine-131 have been detected in Europe but the particles are not believed to pose a public health risk, the U.N. nuclear agency said Friday, saying it was seeking to find the source. … Continue reading →

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Bulgarian reactor restarted after replacing cracked control rod casings

Posted on October 27, 2011 by

Focus Information Agency reported today: Bulgaria’s Kozloduy nuclear power plant announced Thursday it had switched one of its reactors back on to the electricity grid, after a month of refuelling and repairs, AFP reported. The 1,000-megawatt reactor number six — … Continue reading →

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