“We take situations that can reduce the nuclear safety at the Norwegian nuclear facilities very seriously. Corrosion and material damage in a fuel storage can increase the risk of an incident, and it is important to handle it quickly and effectively. IFE is responsible for maintaining safety at the facility. We have opened an inspection case and will follow the situation closely,” says Per Strand, Director of the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA).
IFE discovered material wear during internal inspections conducted at the wet storage for spent fuel in Halden. As part of the inspection, DSA has also sent inspectors to be present at the Halden site.
IFE’s preliminary assessment and calculations indicate there is no acute risk for a serious incident to occur and no increased radiation or release of radioactive substances has been measured so far by IFE’s monitoring. . IFE continues to assess the implications of these findings, the safety impacts and is considering which immediate measures that may put in place to improve safety at the fuel storage.
“DSA is now following up on IFE’s management of this situation, including safety risk assessments, as well as IFE’s considerations of possible risk-reducing measures at the fuel storage,” says Strand.
The inspection case will be kept open as long as DSA deems necessary.
DSA maintains an ongoing dialogue with IFE as well as local and regional actors involved in nuclear emergency preparedness.