Response to Fukushima

In March 2011, the nuclear power plant at Fukushima in Japan was overwhelmed by a natural disaster.

A tsunami caused by a major earthquake disabled the electrical systems that powered the cooling of reactors and spent fuel ponds. The loss of cooling caused a build-up of heat from the nuclear fuel, resulting in explosions that breached the containment around the nuclear hazards.

The EU and UK ordered reviews of safety at nuclear facilities within their territories.

Fukushima and the UK nuclear industry - Office for Nuclear Regulation

Dounreay is a shutdown nuclear site. Three reactors closed down between 1969 and 1994, their fuel removed and the structures now are being dismantled. Some spent fuel continues to be stored at the site.

None of the facilities or spent fuel today requires cooling to maintain safety.

DSRL, the NDA’s site closure contractor, carried out a series of assessments in accordance with “stress tests” required by the European nuclear safety regulatory committee . These were considered by the UK nuclear safety regulator to be “thorough and proportionate” to the hazards at Dounreay today.

These found that all credible threats are addressed in the existing safety cases of facilities. A complete loss of electrical supplies, while impairing the operation of the site, would not create a nuclear hazard.

DSRL Response to ENSREG Stress Test - DSRL

 

 

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